job market

Employers added a whopping 339,000 jobs in May, far above expectations, according to a report from the Labor Department on Friday. The unemployment rate rose to 3.7%, from 3.4% in April.

The country is in the midst of a job crisis. The rate of unemployment is about 13% among educated youth. Those who work in the informal sector vie for jobs with no security. Why are things so bad?

Even as millions of Americans are losing jobs in restaurants, hotels and airlines, a few industries are adding thousands of workers. They include pharmacies, online retail and delivery services.

U.S. employers added 128,000 jobs last month. The unemployment rate inched up to 3.6%. The drop in job creation reflects a slowing economy, but a strike at General Motors was also a factor.

People convicted of felonies often have difficulties getting hired. But many employers say they're suffering a labor shortage, and attitudes toward hiring people with criminal records are changing.

For years after the Great Recession, employers were reluctant to boost wages. Now a tight labor market is giving workers the leverage they need to demand a larger slice of the nation's economic pie.

U.S. unemployment is at a nearly 50-year low. The jobless rate for Hispanics has never been lower. The past two years have been the best job market ever for African Americans. Shouldn't we be excited?