U.S. Department of Labor
A customer walks behind a sign at a Nordstrom store seeking employees, Friday, May 21, 2021, in Coral Gables, Fla. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dropped last week to 406,000, a new pandemic low and more evidence that the job market is strengthening as the virus wanes and economy further reopens. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
US unemployment claims fall to 376,000, sixth straight drop

By Paul Wiseman Jun. 10, 2021 08:37 AM EDT

A Now Hiring sign at a business in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, June 2, 2021. U.S. employers posted a record 9.3 million job openings in April as the U.S. economy reopens at break-neck speed. Openings were up 12% from 8.3 million in March. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
US job openings surge to record 9.3 million in April

By Paul Wiseman Jun. 08, 2021 10:26 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2020 file photo, a sign for Wall Street is carved in the side of a building, in New York. Stocks are pushing higher in early trading on Wall Street, Friday, June 4, 2021, putting most major indexes back to gains for the week. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Stocks end the week higher as US jobs report calms Fed fears

By Damian J. Troise And Alex Veiga Jun. 04, 2021 02:31 AM EDT

In this image for the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism, a blackboard at Lindy's Seafood Inc. in Woolford, Md., displays prices for crabs, April 21, 2021. The company relies on temporary workers from Mexico hired through the U.S. Department of Labor's H-2B visa program to help process crabs during high season. The government authorized more than 12,000 H-2B workers nationwide in 2019-20 for jobs at seafood plants. (Carmen Molina Acosta/University of Maryland via AP)
COVID-19 protections not offered to migrant seafood workers

By Vanessa Sánchez Pulla, Trisha Ahmed, Brittany Nicole Gaddy, Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi, Carmen Molina Acosta, Sophia Sorensen And Aadit Tambe/The Howard Center For Investigative Journalism May. 12, 2021 12:36 PM EDT

In this image for the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism, shoppers walk out of a Walmart store in Waldorf, Md., May 7, 2021. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has not cited the nation's largest retailer despite employee complaints, illnesses and deaths at Walmart facilities across the country. The company says there is no proof that employees contracted COVID-19 at work. (Brittany N. Gaddy/University of Maryland via AP)
Walmart sales soared, essential workers got scant protection

By Gracie Todd, Molly Castle Work, Natalie Drum, Nick Mcmillan, Kara Newhouse, Jazmyn Gray, Aneurin Canham Clyne, Jack Rasiel, Sahana Jayaraman And Haley Chi-Sing/The Howard Center For Investigative Journalism May. 12, 2021 12:31 PM EDT

A hiring sign offers a $500 bonus outside a McDonalds restaurant, in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pa., Wednesday, May 5, 2021. U.S. employers posted a record number of available jobs in March, starkly illustrating the desperation of businesses to hire more people as the economy expands. Yet total job gains increased only modestly that month, according to a Labor Department report issued Tuesday, May 11. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
US job openings soar to highest level on record

By Christopher Rugaber May. 11, 2021 10:42 AM EDT

Montana ends unemployment pay boost amid worker shortage

By Iris Samuels May. 04, 2021 12:42 PM EDT
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana is ending its participation in the federal unemployment program that gives people extra weekly unemployment benefit payments as...

Fidel Martinez stands for a portrait at one of his former worksites in Minneapolis on Sunday, April 18, 2021. Martinez worked for a demolition contractor in the fall of 2020, demolishing several Walgreens stores and other structures. Martinez said the contractor owed him and his co-workers more than $20,000. His boss kept telling him the money was coming, but he would get his paychecks weeks late, and many of them he didn't get at all. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
How companies rip off poor employees — and get away with it

By Alexia Fernández Campbell And Joe Yerardi May. 04, 2021 12:12 AM EDT

Fidel Martinez stands for a portrait at one of his former worksites in Minneapolis on Sunday, April 18, 2021. Martinez worked for a demolition contractor in the fall of 2020, demolishing several Walgreens stores and other structures. Martinez said the contractor owed him and his co-workers more than $20,000. His boss kept telling him the money was coming, but he would get his paychecks weeks late, and many of them he didn't get at all. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
How companies rip off poor employees — and get away with it

By Alexia Fernández Campbell And Joe Yerardi May. 04, 2021 12:12 AM EDT

A hiring sign shows in Wheeling, Ill., Sunday, March 21, 2021. The number of Americans applying for unemployment aid fell last week to 547,000, a new low since the pandemic struck and a further encouraging sign that layoffs are slowing on the strength of an improving job market. The Labor Department said Thursday, April 22, that applications declined 39,000 from a revised 586,000 a week earlier. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
US wages and benefits jump as economy reopens

By Christopher Rugaber Apr. 30, 2021 09:04 AM EDT

People wait in line, resumes in hand, while waiting to apply for jobs during an outdoor hiring event for the Circa resort and casino, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in Las Vegas. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped by 13,000 last week to 553,000, the lowest level since the pandemic hit last March and another sign the economy is recovering from the coronavirus recession. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Jobless claims drop 13,000 to 553,000 as economy heals

By Paul Wiseman Apr. 29, 2021 08:47 AM EDT

Vermont asked to review thousands of unemployment claims

By Lisa Rathke Apr. 29, 2021 04:00 AM EDT
The U.S. Department of Labor has directed Vermont to review the eligibility of thousands of Vermonters who received unemployment benefits over the last 13...

Business fined for not following COVID-19 safety guidelines

Apr. 15, 2021 10:28 AM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — The owner of a Massachusetts tax preparation business faces more than $136,000 in federal fines for allegedly prohibiting employees and customers...

A hiring sign is seen outside home improvement store in Mount Prospect, Ill., Friday, April 2, 2021. The pace of job openings reached the highest level on record in February, a harbinger of healthy hiring and a hopeful sign for those looking for work. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
US job openings in February reached highest rate on record

By Christopher Rugaber Apr. 06, 2021 11:00 AM EDT

This Week: Job openings, consumer credit, Levi Strauss earns

The Associated Press Apr. 05, 2021 01:10 AM EDT
A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week: JOB MARKET BAROMETER The Labor...

President Joe Biden speaks about the March jobs report in the State Dining Room of the White House, Friday, April 2, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
March hiring accelerated to 916K, yet many jobs remain lost

By Christopher Rugaber Apr. 01, 2021 12:13 PM EDT

This Week: Consumer confidence, CarMax earns, jobs report

The Associated Press Mar. 29, 2021 01:10 AM EDT
A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week: GAINING CONFIDENCE The Conference...

Nevada jobless rate improves a tick in February, to 8.3%

Mar. 26, 2021 09:14 PM EDT
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada added jobs in February and the state jobless office reported the unemployment figure improved a tick, to 8.3% from 8.5% in...

Editorial Roundup: South Carolina

By The Associated Press Mar. 24, 2021 03:56 PM EDT
Recent editorials from South Carolina newspapers: ___ March 24 The Index-Journal on South Carolina...

Beshear signs relief bill for some jobless aid recipients

By Bruce Schreiner Mar. 12, 2021 07:23 PM EST
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday signed legislation allowing the state to waive the overpayment of some pandemic-related unemployment...