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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Employment

News                                                                                                                             
WSJ | Fed Sees Modest Growth as Jobs, Housing Improve
The U.S. economy inched ahead in July and early August, as the jobs picture improved slightly in some areas and the housing market continued to mend, the Federal Reserve said in a report Wednesday.
Bloomberg | Jobless Claims in U.S. Unchanged Last Week at One-Month High
Jobless claims were little changed at 374,000 in the week ended Aug. 25, matching the upwardly revised figure from the prior week, the Labor Department reported today in Washington.
USA TODAY | Serious shortage of skilled auto mechanics looming
There is already competition among auto dealers in many parts of the nation to hire or retain good technicians. The bigger worry is whether there will be enough younger workers in a few years as a wave of midcareer mechanics hits retirement age.

Econ Comments & Analysis                                                                                            
Heritage Foundation | Government Makes It More Difficult for First-Time Job Seekers
Government policies have made this difficult labor market even worse for younger Americans. In 2007, Congress voted to raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. Half of minimum wage earners are between the ages of 16 and 24.