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The increase in openings reflected gains in two sectors vital to the economy's health: manufacturing and construction. In March, factories advertised 55,000 more openings, while construction firms posted 23,000 more openings. However, government job openings decreased by 26,000. The majority of the decline was at the state and local level, where governments continue to face budgetary pressures. The unemployment rate has fallen a full percentage point since August to 8.1 percent last month
-- the lowest level since January 2009. Still, 8.1 percent unemployment is painfully high. And part of the reason for the decline is more people gave up looking for work. People who are out of work but not looking for jobs aren't counted among the unemployment. Many people with jobs are seeing little in the way of pay increases. The employment report on Friday showed that the average worker's hourly pay rose by just one penny in April. Over the past year, average hourly pay has ticked up 1.8 percent to $23.28. Inflation has been roughly 2.7 percent. Which means the average consumer isn't keeping up with price increases.
[Associated
Press;
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