U.S. Adds 162,000 jobs in March, Unemployment Still at Nearly 10 Percent
Despite the largest monthly increase in jobs since 2004, the U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.7 percent.
There appears to be more hope emerging that the jobs market is beginning to show signs of life. Jobs increased in manufacturing and hours worked per week are increasing around the nation. An increase in the hours worked per employee is a good indicator that companies will soon need to add more workers.
This small uptick in the jobs outlook could offer a much-needed boost to the Obama administration as it finds itself slowly regaining a stronghold in the polls. After much debate and political posturing, the highly controversial healthcare overhaul is through Congress, with only minor details to be re-worked. And, at this point, it would seem that the administration was able to make that happen without openly sacrificing the seats of its party members who were hesitant to support the legislation.
Despite all the controversy and the tea parties, the Democrats find themselves in an enviable position. They have orchestrated large and far-reaching legislation - that's something that Republicans allowed them to take all the credit for, so they look like they're actually doing "something." In contrast, Republican lawmakers gambled incorrectly that simply attempting to halt the legislation with various political maneuvers would be enough to rally the American public. Instead, it appears that the public would rather see legislative effort put forth with the "intent" of creating positive change, even if they don't necessarily agree with the plan.
If the economy begins to demonstrate a sustainable recovery and the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq remains relatively stable, Republicans are going to have their hands full in the upcoming mid-term elections.
This small uptick in the jobs outlook could offer a much-needed boost to the Obama administration as it finds itself slowly regaining a stronghold in the polls. After much debate and political posturing, the highly controversial healthcare overhaul is through Congress, with only minor details to be re-worked. And, at this point, it would seem that the administration was able to make that happen without openly sacrificing the seats of its party members who were hesitant to support the legislation.
Despite all the controversy and the tea parties, the Democrats find themselves in an enviable position. They have orchestrated large and far-reaching legislation - that's something that Republicans allowed them to take all the credit for, so they look like they're actually doing "something." In contrast, Republican lawmakers gambled incorrectly that simply attempting to halt the legislation with various political maneuvers would be enough to rally the American public. Instead, it appears that the public would rather see legislative effort put forth with the "intent" of creating positive change, even if they don't necessarily agree with the plan.
If the economy begins to demonstrate a sustainable recovery and the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq remains relatively stable, Republicans are going to have their hands full in the upcoming mid-term elections.
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