Unemployment in the US down to a 50-year low!

The official unemployment rate in the US has fallen to 3.5%, an unprecedented low which has not been seen since 1969, the same year that American astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon! The record lows are visible all across the US with both the Hispanic and African-American communities also recording extreme low levels of unemployment.

As the US economy moves slowly towards full employment, wages across the country have also increased by 2.9% in the last year. Although this is above the current rate of inflation in the US (1.7%), it is still seen by US economists as a sluggish increase, not filling the hearts and minds of US workers with much optimism. The current concern is that the US economy might be drawn into the economic woes of other regions around the world, leading to an increase in inflation and reduced economic growth.

Despite future uncertainty, job creation is surging across the nation and likely to be used as a strong mandate by president Trump going into next year’s presidential elections.

Think like an economist!

  1. Explain how unemployment rates are measured.
  2. What is the link between job creation and the presidential election?
  3. Analyse the impact of wage increases on American workers.
TheCuriousEconomist

Recent Posts

Trump Vows to Abolish Overtime Taxes in Latest Campaign Promise

In a recent campaign speech, former President Donald Trump pledged to abolish taxes on overtime…

1 week ago

Google and Apple Fined Billions for Abusing Monopoly Power

Google and Apple, two of the world’s largest tech companies, have faced heavy fines for…

1 week ago

Bill Gates on Taxes: “I should have paid more!”

Bill Gates recently spoke out about the US tax system, stating that he would be…

2 weeks ago

How Premier League Football Clubs Make a Profit: The Case of Brighton & Hove Albion

Premier League football clubs have become multi-million-pound businesses, generating revenue from various streams beyond matchday…

2 weeks ago

New Zealand’s Tourism Tax Hike: A Boost or Barrier for Economic Growth?

New Zealand is set to raise its tourism entry tax, increasing the International Visitor Conservation…

2 weeks ago

Iceland’s TikTok Cucumber Shortage

In an unexpected twist, Icelandic supermarkets are facing an acute shortage of cucumbers, all due…

4 weeks ago