7/6/2018

ECONOMY/JOBS/LABOR/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Job growth decelerated in June, the government reported Friday [7-6-18], as employers struggled to find qualified workers to fill an abundance of job openings. The Labor Department reported 213,000 new jobs in June, down from 244,000 added in May. Unemployment ticked up to 4 percent after falling to 3.8 percent in May. Nevertheless, the White House, in a statement, described the numbers as the ‘latest in a string of positive headlines showing that confidence is surging, growth is accelerating and jobs are plentiful in the Trump economy.’ But the tight labor market continued to produce bafflingly weak wage growth, with average hourly earnings up 2.7 percent over the previous year, unchanged from May. Although government data show there are roughly enough jobs for every person seeking one, experts say businesses are struggling to find qualified applicants.”

-Ian Kullgren, “Jobs growth declined in June,” Politico, July 6, 2018 8:35 am