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Unemployment in U.S. Unexpectedly Fell in May: Live Updates Unemployment in U.S. Unexpectedly Fell in May: Live Updates
(about 2 hours later)
The job market unexpectedly reversed its free fall in May as employers brought back millions of workers after pandemic-induced layoffs and the unemployment rate declined.The job market unexpectedly reversed its free fall in May as employers brought back millions of workers after pandemic-induced layoffs and the unemployment rate declined.
Tens of millions remain out of work, and the unemployment rate, which fell to 13.3 percent from 14.7 percent in April, remains higher than in any previous postwar recession.Tens of millions remain out of work, and the unemployment rate, which fell to 13.3 percent from 14.7 percent in April, remains higher than in any previous postwar recession.
But employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, the Labor Department said Friday, defying economists’ expectations of further losses and offering hope that the rebound from the pandemic-induced economic crisis could be faster than forecast.But employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, the Labor Department said Friday, defying economists’ expectations of further losses and offering hope that the rebound from the pandemic-induced economic crisis could be faster than forecast.
Still, job openings remain far below normal, and the trillions of dollars in government assistance that have helped keep the economy on life support may be nearing their end.Still, job openings remain far below normal, and the trillions of dollars in government assistance that have helped keep the economy on life support may be nearing their end.
The report noted that “employment rose sharply in leisure and hospitality, construction, education and health services, and retail trade,” even as jobs in the government continued their decline.The report noted that “employment rose sharply in leisure and hospitality, construction, education and health services, and retail trade,” even as jobs in the government continued their decline.
“What this is telling us is that at least part of the pain in April was due to people being laid off or furloughed who still had very strong connections to their employers,” Ernie Tedeschi, an economist at Evercore ISI in Washington, said. “As good and surprising as this report was, this may just be the low-hanging fruit. These may have been the easiest workers to bring back.”“What this is telling us is that at least part of the pain in April was due to people being laid off or furloughed who still had very strong connections to their employers,” Ernie Tedeschi, an economist at Evercore ISI in Washington, said. “As good and surprising as this report was, this may just be the low-hanging fruit. These may have been the easiest workers to bring back.”
Stocks on Wall Street shot higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 coming close to recouping all of its losses for 2020 so far, after the U.S. government reported a surprising pickup in hiring in May.
The S&P 500 rose more than 2 percent. The index is now about 1 percent below where it started the year, and some 6 percent away from its high-point in February.
Another major Wall Street index, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite, was on track to rise to a record. Large technology companies like Amazon, Apple and Microsoft have fared relatively well lately because they are seen as protected from any economic downturn because of their sheer size and enormous cash stockpiles, and also because the nature of the coronavirus-related lockdowns — with workers at home and consumers dependent on e-commerce — played directly to their strengths.
Stocks were already poised to rise before the government reported that employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, but the news sent share prices sharply higher. Economists had expected the government to report that eight million jobs had been lost during the month.
“These much better than expected results suggest that the U.S. economy may be more resilient than many investors and analysts feared,” wrote John Stoltzfus, chief investment strategist, at Oppenheimer Asset Management.
The rally rippled through other markets as well. Oil prices also surged, as did yields on U.S. Treasury bonds, suggesting the jobs numbers delivered an unexpected jolt of economic optimism to investors.
Oil prices were also strengthened by the expectation that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers will agree on Saturday to extend production cuts through July. These countries originally agreed on April 12 to trim production by a combined 9.7 million barrels a day, or about 10 percent of global supplies in normal times. Production was supposed to begin rising gradually after June.
The producers are expected to meet by videoconference to agree on the extension and other matters, analysts said. OPEC has not yet confirmed that the meeting will occur.
Energy, financial and industrial stocks led the day’s gains. Airlines — which had been battered by the coronavirus crisis — soared, with United Airlines and Delta Air Lines both up more than 10 percent. American Airlines was up more than 25 percent.
Financial markets have been on an upward trajectory for weeks as investors have responded to signs around the world that businesses were slowly but steadily returning to normal and policymakers pumped money into the economy and financial markets.
Since March 23, when the market bottomed after the Federal Reserve signaled its willingness to pump unlimited amounts of liquidity into financial markets to stabilize key bond markets that were then malfunctioning, the stock market has risen more than 40 percent.
Restaurants and bars, health care employers and construction were among the sectors that drove the May job market improvement, based on the Labor Department’s report.Restaurants and bars, health care employers and construction were among the sectors that drove the May job market improvement, based on the Labor Department’s report.
About 1.4 million people gained or took back their restaurant jobs, even as hotels continued to shed workers. About 460,000 were hired or rehired in construction, 370,000 in retail, and 390,000 in health care and social assistance. That latter boost came heavily from dentist’s offices, which took back some 245,000 workers.About 1.4 million people gained or took back their restaurant jobs, even as hotels continued to shed workers. About 460,000 were hired or rehired in construction, 370,000 in retail, and 390,000 in health care and social assistance. That latter boost came heavily from dentist’s offices, which took back some 245,000 workers.
The data tells the story of an employment rebound as the state and local economies began to reopen and Paycheck Protection Program checks went out, spurring rehiring and bringing workers back onto payrolls.The data tells the story of an employment rebound as the state and local economies began to reopen and Paycheck Protection Program checks went out, spurring rehiring and bringing workers back onto payrolls.
“The economy is still being very much buffered by stimulus,” said Michelle Meyer, head of U.S. economics at Bank of America. “When that starts to wane, we will learn a lot more about the underlying health of the recovery.”“The economy is still being very much buffered by stimulus,” said Michelle Meyer, head of U.S. economics at Bank of America. “When that starts to wane, we will learn a lot more about the underlying health of the recovery.”
Ms. Meyer noted that more than half of the job gains in May — 1.4 million — were in restaurants and bars, many of which probably received assistance under the government’s Paycheck Protection Program. Friday’s report suggests that the program, along with other elements of the government’s response, helped offset at least some of the economic damage. Ms. Meyer noted that more than half of the job gains in May — 1.4 million — were in restaurants and bars, many of which probably received assistance under the government’s Paycheck Protection Program. The report on Friday suggests that the program, along with other elements of the government’s response, helped offset at least some of the economic damage.
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Friday laced into President Trump’s stewardship of the economy, arguing that even as a new jobs report showed moderate and unexpected gains, Mr. Trump should be held to account for deepening the nation’s staggering and unequal economic pain.
Mr. Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, delivered the speech at Delaware State University, a historically black university in Dover, Del., just hours after a jobs report showed unemployment falling to 13.3 percent in May from 14.7 in April, as the economy added some 2.5 million jobs.
Republicans hope to run on a message of economic comeback, and Mr. Biden said that he was “proud of” and “so happy” for the Americans who had found work. But it was far too soon, he warned, to declare the economic crisis over, noting that black unemployment had risen even as the numbers declined over all.
“It’s time for him to step out of his own bunker,” Mr. Biden said of the president, suggesting that Mr. Trump was prematurely seeking to declare, “Mission Accomplished.” “A president who takes no responsibility for costing millions and millions of Americans their jobs deserves no credit when a fraction of them return.”
Mr. Biden’s remarks came as the country reeled from unrest surrounding issues of race and police violence, following the killing last week of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by a white police officer.
Promoting the economic news on Friday and also lauding the National Guard for handling protests in Minnesota, Mr. Trump referenced Mr. Floyd, saying this is “a great day for him, it’s a great day for everybody.”
Mr. Biden called those remarks “despicable.”
The 13.3 percent unemployment rate doesn’t tell the whole unemployment story. That is true even in ordinary times, and more so in view of the pandemic’s effect on the labor market, which has made this figure particularly incomplete as a measure of economic hardship.The 13.3 percent unemployment rate doesn’t tell the whole unemployment story. That is true even in ordinary times, and more so in view of the pandemic’s effect on the labor market, which has made this figure particularly incomplete as a measure of economic hardship.
The headline unemployment rate is calculated by taking the number of unemployed adults divided by the total number of people in the labor force, employed and unemployed.The headline unemployment rate is calculated by taking the number of unemployed adults divided by the total number of people in the labor force, employed and unemployed.
But there are millions of people who are not working and want a job that this rate leaves out, including those part-time because their hours were cut, as well as those not looking for work because of fears about getting sick or responsibilities like caring for children.But there are millions of people who are not working and want a job that this rate leaves out, including those part-time because their hours were cut, as well as those not looking for work because of fears about getting sick or responsibilities like caring for children.
Combining these and other groups results in a 27 percent expanded unemployment rate, which could more closely reflect the share of the labor force whose employment has been negatively affected by the pandemic.Combining these and other groups results in a 27 percent expanded unemployment rate, which could more closely reflect the share of the labor force whose employment has been negatively affected by the pandemic.
President Trump hailed the surprisingly strong jobs report on Friday in a news conference, proclaiming it as a sign of a rapid rebound, even as economists warned that full recovery in the labor market could still be years away.President Trump hailed the surprisingly strong jobs report on Friday in a news conference, proclaiming it as a sign of a rapid rebound, even as economists warned that full recovery in the labor market could still be years away.
“It was incredible in a couple of ways,” Mr. Trump said from the Rose Garden. “We’ll go back to having the greatest economy anywhere in the world.”“It was incredible in a couple of ways,” Mr. Trump said from the Rose Garden. “We’ll go back to having the greatest economy anywhere in the world.”
Later, Mr. Trump predicted the nation was experiencing an improvement that was even better than a so-called V-shaped recovery from recession, in which activity returns quickly after it falls. “This is better than a V,” he said. “This is a rocket ship!”Later, Mr. Trump predicted the nation was experiencing an improvement that was even better than a so-called V-shaped recovery from recession, in which activity returns quickly after it falls. “This is better than a V,” he said. “This is a rocket ship!”
The unemployment rate dropped to 13.3 percent in May from 14.7 percent the prior month. While that remains historically high, it is far below the 19 percent the median economist in a Bloomberg survey had expected. The unemployment rate dropped to 13.3 percent in May from 14.7 percent the prior month. That remains historically high, but it is far below the 19 percent the median economist in a Bloomberg survey had expected.
The improvement came as government relief checks helped consumers to resume spending and companies to rehire their workers. Practically no pandemic federal aid had made its way to households or companies at the time of the April employment report. By May, hundreds of billions of dollars had gone out. The improvement came as government relief checks helped consumers resume spending and companies rehire their workers. Practically no pandemic federal aid had made its way to households or companies at the time of the April employment report. By May, hundreds of billions of dollars had gone out.
“The best interpretation I have for this right now is that when we had the April report, virtually none of the stimulus had gone out by the reference week,” said Ernie Tedeschi, and economist at Evercore ISI in Washington. “Now we’ve had a full month of fiscal support. I think part of the recovery is due to that.”“The best interpretation I have for this right now is that when we had the April report, virtually none of the stimulus had gone out by the reference week,” said Ernie Tedeschi, and economist at Evercore ISI in Washington. “Now we’ve had a full month of fiscal support. I think part of the recovery is due to that.”
That said, the May report may show that the “low-hanging fruit” job losses have been reversed, Mr. Tedeschi said, as people who retained close ties with their employers flowed back into work. It could take longer for unemployment to grind back to the roughly 3.5 percent rate that prevailed before the pandemic. That said, the May report may show that the “low-hanging fruit” job losses have been reversed, Mr. Tedeschi said, as people who retained close ties with their employers flowed back to work. It could take longer for unemployment to grind back to the roughly 3.5 percent rate that prevailed before the pandemic.
Other economists warned that the recovery will not come nearly as quickly as Mr. Trump predicts. “The report does not change our view that the recovery will be much more gradual than the collapse,” Jim O’Sullivan, the chief U.S. macro strategist at TD Securities, wrote in a research note. “To some extent, it merely reflects an earlier start to the recovery.”Other economists warned that the recovery will not come nearly as quickly as Mr. Trump predicts. “The report does not change our view that the recovery will be much more gradual than the collapse,” Jim O’Sullivan, the chief U.S. macro strategist at TD Securities, wrote in a research note. “To some extent, it merely reflects an earlier start to the recovery.”
Mr. Trump praised the trillions of dollars in economic rescue packages that Congress passed earlier this year to help individuals and companies survive the recession, and he suggested the United States could do more.
“We’re set up to do more if we want,” he said, adding “I think we should, because we are dominant.”
Unemployment for Hispanic workers and white workers dropped sharply in May, while the jobless rate for black adults remained high.Unemployment for Hispanic workers and white workers dropped sharply in May, while the jobless rate for black adults remained high.
Joblessness for white adults fell to 12.4 percent from 14.2 percent the prior month, and Hispanic worker unemployment declined to 17.6 percent from 18.9 percent. For black workers, however, joblessness was up slightly to 16.8 percent, and unemployment for Asians also increased, to 15 percent from 14.5 percent.Joblessness for white adults fell to 12.4 percent from 14.2 percent the prior month, and Hispanic worker unemployment declined to 17.6 percent from 18.9 percent. For black workers, however, joblessness was up slightly to 16.8 percent, and unemployment for Asians also increased, to 15 percent from 14.5 percent.
Construction and leisure and hospitality, sectors where Hispanic workers are heavily represented, rebounded sharply in May. It is too soon to tell with just one month of data, but it could also reflect the beginning of a common recession pattern: job losses for black workers often continue even as the tide turns and white workers in particular begin to return to work.Construction and leisure and hospitality, sectors where Hispanic workers are heavily represented, rebounded sharply in May. It is too soon to tell with just one month of data, but it could also reflect the beginning of a common recession pattern: job losses for black workers often continue even as the tide turns and white workers in particular begin to return to work.
Black workers did recoup some jobs, but not enough to offset the increase in the number of adults applying for employment. The employment-to-population ratio for black workers ticked up to 49.6 percent, up from 48.8 percent the prior month. Still, that means that less than half of black adults are working — worse than any other large racial or ethnic group.Black workers did recoup some jobs, but not enough to offset the increase in the number of adults applying for employment. The employment-to-population ratio for black workers ticked up to 49.6 percent, up from 48.8 percent the prior month. Still, that means that less than half of black adults are working — worse than any other large racial or ethnic group.
The unexpected upswing in the monthly jobs report on Friday threw into doubt the prospects of another coronavirus stimulus bill, threatening to further temper Republicans’ willingness to provide additional relief.The unexpected upswing in the monthly jobs report on Friday threw into doubt the prospects of another coronavirus stimulus bill, threatening to further temper Republicans’ willingness to provide additional relief.
“Goodbye phase 4,” a Republican official wrote in a text message on Friday morning after the numbers were released, encapsulating a sense among lawmakers and aides that the figures would sap what little enthusiasm there was for more.“Goodbye phase 4,” a Republican official wrote in a text message on Friday morning after the numbers were released, encapsulating a sense among lawmakers and aides that the figures would sap what little enthusiasm there was for more.
Others conceded privately that some relief package would likely still materialize, but with a substantially lower price tag and a narrower focus on modifying existing programs, rather than creating new ones. Others conceded privately that some relief package was still likely to materialize, but with a substantially lower price tag and a narrower focus on modifying existing programs, rather than creating new ones.
Republicans had already thrown cold water on the idea of another stimulus package on top of the nearly $2.8 trillion already enacted, warning of soaring deficits and arguing that they wanted to see how the economy responded before doling out more money.Republicans had already thrown cold water on the idea of another stimulus package on top of the nearly $2.8 trillion already enacted, warning of soaring deficits and arguing that they wanted to see how the economy responded before doling out more money.
A number of new programs and economic lifelines expire later this summer, giving Congress a hard deadline to decide whether to extend the benefits or modify them to adjust for the country’s economic state. Those include an enhanced package of unemployment benefits that lapse at the end of July, which Republicans had already said they opposed extending.A number of new programs and economic lifelines expire later this summer, giving Congress a hard deadline to decide whether to extend the benefits or modify them to adjust for the country’s economic state. Those include an enhanced package of unemployment benefits that lapse at the end of July, which Republicans had already said they opposed extending.
House Democrats last month approved a $3 trillion relief package that would send aid to struggling state and local governments and another round of direct $1,200 payments to taxpayers, which Republicans rejected outright. Instead, some Senate Republicans are coalescing around toughening liability protections for health care workers and businesses that are beginning to reopen. An aviation dispute between the Trump administration and China appears to be softening, with the United States on Friday saying it will allow Chinese carriers to collectively operate two weekly round-trip flights to the United States. The announcement comes two days after the Transportation Department said it would ban all such flights in response to a similar ban on American passenger flights to and from China. After the department made that announcement, the Chinese government said it would allow two American airlines to operate weekly flights, paving the way for the reversal on Friday.
An aviation dispute between the Trump administration and China appears to be softening, with the United States on Friday saying it will allow Chinese carriers, collectively, to operate two weekly round-trip flights to the United States.
The announcement comes two days after the Transportation Department said it would ban all such flights in response to a similar ban on American passenger flights to and from China. After the department made that announcement, the Chinese government said it would allow two American airlines to operate weekly flights, paving the way for the reversal on Friday.
Tensions between the two countries have deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks, as officials have fought over the origin of the pandemic and China’s decision to tighten its authority over Hong Kong.
The aviation dispute stemmed from a decision that China’s aviation authority made in late March to limit foreign airlines to the flight schedules that they operated earlier that month. Because the major American airlines that fly to China had already stopped service by that point, the decision amounted to an effective ban.
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines had planned to resume service to China this month, but were unable to get approval from the aviation authority, prompting the U.S. government to intervene.
Stocks on Wall Street shot higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 coming close to recouping all of its losses for 2020 so far, after the U.S. government reported a surprising pickup in hiring in May.
The S&P 500 rose more than 2 percent. The index is now about 1 percent below where it started the year, and some 7 percent away from its high-point in February.
Though stocks were already poised to gain before the government reported that employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, the news sent share prices sharply higher. Economists had expected the government to report that eight million jobs had been lost during the month.
“These much better than expected results suggest that the U.S. economy may be more resilient than many investors and analysts feared,” wrote John Stoltzfus, chief investment strategist, at Oppenheimer Asset Management.
The rally rippled through other markets as well. Oil prices also surged, as did yields on U.S. Treasury bonds, suggesting the jobs numbers delivered an unexpected jolt of economic optimism to investors.
Oil prices were also strengthened by the expectation that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers will agree on Saturday to extend production cuts through July. These countries originally agreed on April 12 to trim production by a combined 9.7 million barrels a day, or about 10 percent of global supplies in normal times. Production was supposed to begin rising gradually after June.
The producers are expected to meet by videoconference to agree on the extension and other matters, analysts said. OPEC has not yet confirmed that the meeting will occur.
Energy, financial and industrial stocks led the day’s gains. Airlines — which had been battered by the coronavirus crisis — soared, with United Airlines and Delta Air Lines both up more than 10 percent. American Airlines was up more than 25 percent.
Financial markets have been on an upward trajectory for weeks as investors have responded to signs around the world that businesses were slowly but steadily returning to normal and policymakers pumped money into the economy and financial markets.
Since March 23, when the market bottomed after the Federal Reserve signaled its willingness to pump unlimited amounts of liquidity into financial markets to stabilize key bond markets that were then malfunctioning, the stock market has risen more than 40 percent.
Gap, one of the biggest U.S. retailers with its namesake, Old Navy and Banana Republic chains, said on Thursday that net sales in the first quarter plummeted 43 percent to $2.1 billion and that it posted a net loss of $932 million. The company, which has nearly 2,800 stores in North America, said that it had reopened more than 1,500 locations and expected the “vast majority” of stores to be open by the end of June.Gap, one of the biggest U.S. retailers with its namesake, Old Navy and Banana Republic chains, said on Thursday that net sales in the first quarter plummeted 43 percent to $2.1 billion and that it posted a net loss of $932 million. The company, which has nearly 2,800 stores in North America, said that it had reopened more than 1,500 locations and expected the “vast majority” of stores to be open by the end of June.
Slack, the business communication platform, said in a regulatory filing that its first-quarter revenue rose 50 percent to $201.7 million and a small loss compared with the same period last year. But the results disappointed investors, who expected greater growth during the pandemic, and its shares plunged.Slack, the business communication platform, said in a regulatory filing that its first-quarter revenue rose 50 percent to $201.7 million and a small loss compared with the same period last year. But the results disappointed investors, who expected greater growth during the pandemic, and its shares plunged.
Faced with plunging sales, companies are trying to renegotiate their office and retail leases — and in some cases refusing to pay — in hopes of lowering their overhead. Simon Property Group, the biggest mall operator in the United States, this week sued retailer Gap for nearly $66 million in unpaid rent for April, May and June, according to a lawsuit filed in Delaware this week. Reporting was contributed by Katie Glueck, Astead W. Herndon, Alicia Parlapiano, Niraj Chokshi, Conor Dougherty, Peter Eavis, Ben Casselman, Anupreeta Das, Peter Eavis, Vanessa Friedman, Mohammed Hadi, Sapna Maheshwari, Gregory Schmidt, Carlos Tejada and Kevin Granville.
Reporting was contributed by Alicia Parlapiano, Niraj Chokshi, Conor Dougherty, Peter Eavis, Ben Casselman, Anupreeta Das, Peter Eavis, Vanessa Friedman, Mohammed Hadi, Sapna Maheshwari, Gregory Schmidt, Carlos Tejada and Kevin Granville.