RJ and Makay

>> Read More RJ & Makay Blog Posts

The Labor Department report today showed that jobless claims fell to a new four-year low. First-time applications for unemployment benefits fell last week by 6,000 to a seasonably adjusted 357,000, the lowest numbers since April 2008 and cause for optimism heading into tomorrow’s Bureau of Labor Statistics employment situation report for March.

>> Read More RJ & Makay Blog Posts

Men lost more than twice as many jobs as women during the great recession of 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Since the recession ended in June 2009, men have landed 88% of non-farm payroll jobs.  The unemployment rate for males has dropped 2.3% since the end of the recession, to 8.3% in February 2012 from 10.6% in June 2009.  It has stayed flat for women, dipping to 8.2% from 8.3% during the same period.

The government's report on jobs last Friday was mixed, showing a 0.4% drop in unemployment to 9% but without much jobs growth. Nevertheless, economists are forecasting that declines in the unemployment rate will soon be accelerating in the wake of a rallying stock market, strengthening dollar, and improving economy.

Goldman Sachs economists, for example, have adjusted their unemployment forecast for the end of this year downward from 9% to 8.6%. Unemployment will be 8% in 2012 rather than 8.3%, they also predict.