I Got Your Optimism Right Here [People Are Getting Hired!]

Unemployment still may be excessively high at 8.5% (the highest in 25 years, to be precise, and potentially approaching double digits), but according to recent news, plenty of people are still getting hired. The New York Times is reporting today that "while 4.8 million workers were laid off or chose to leave their jobs in February, employers across the country hired 4.3 million workers that month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics."

Economists and job counselors advise the unemployed that there are definitely jobs to be had, even if there aren’t nearly enough to go around. With 13.2 million people out of work, there are 4 1/3 unemployed Americans for every job opening. "You’re facing more competition for every job you apply for, but the reality is there is a lot of hiring going on," said Andrew M. Sum, director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. "You’re never going to find anything unless you apply."

How's that for optimistic advice?

Alright, so the news still isn't as rosy as we'd like it to be, but you've got to be happy with any trend towards hiring. We may just be heading in the right direction after all.

Bright Spot in Downturn: New Hiring is Robust [New York Times]

--Posted by Steven Schiff, Assistant Producer Vault.com