RJ and Makay

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Women have lost ground to men in the labor market following the 2008-2009 recession, according to a recently published Pew Research Center report.  Since the end of the recession in June 2009, men have gained 768,000 jobs while women have lost 218,000 jobs.  It marks the first time since the 1960s that men have outgained women in the labor market subsequent to an economic contraction.

March was a solid month for the jobs market, with private U.S. employers adding 201,000 jobs, reports ADP Employer Services. The ADP report, created jointly with Macroeconomic Advisers LLC, is in line with what economists expect to hear Friday from the government in its more comprehensive public and private sector employment report.

"While a touch softer than February's, this is a strong report that indicates continued momentum in the pace of labor market recovery," says Barclays Capital, noting it still expects the government's report on Friday to show 175,000 new jobs in March. In a new Reuters poll of economists, median forecasts call for increases in nonfarm and private payrolls of 190,000 and 200,000, respectively.

It may not be necessary to complete the second round of quantitative easing (QE2), the Federal Reserve's $600 billion bond-buying program aimed at stimulating the U.S. economy, suggests St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard. “The economy is looking pretty good,” he explains. "It's still reasonable to review QE2 at coming meetings, especially this April, and see if we want to finish the program or stop a little bit short."

However, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has given no indication the central bank will deviate from its plan to buy bonds through June to spur economic growth and reduce unemployment. In two days of congressional testimony earlier this month, Bernanke said that while growth will accelerate in 2011, he still wants to see a sustained period of stronger job creation before curtailing economic stimulus.