The economy,
in human terms.
Hiring, layoffs, wages, and the changing working day.
In September, average hourly pay rose slightly, but consumer prices rose faster. The resulting decline in real average earnings describes broad private-sector averages, not every worker’s paycheck or shopping basket.
August’s 7.1 million reported openings were positions employers were actively recruiting to fill, while 5.2 million hires occurred over the whole month. Those measures describe different things and do not promise a quick match.
The September report paired a 29,000 payroll gain with a 4.2% unemployment rate. Two separate surveys produce those measures, and revisions lowered the previously reported July and August payroll total.
