unemployment

Ten U.S. states still have not regained all the jobs they lost in the Great Recession, even after six and a half years of recovery, while many more have seen only modest gains.

New Jersey's jobless rate has fallen to its lowest level since 2007 and is now more than half a percentage point below the national average.

Employers stepped up hiring in 30 states in January, led by big gains in Florida, Texas and North Carolina, while 20 states shed jobs.

With the national economy continuing to improve, a growing number of states have started reducing the amount of unemployment benefits their residents can receive.

U.S. employers added a robust 242,000 workers in February as retailers, restaurants and health care providers drove another solid month for the resilient American job market. The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.9 percent.

More people sought U.S. unemployment benefits last week, though the figure remained at a low level that suggests layoffs aren't widespread.

Q. If I get “laid off” but I get 10 months’ severance pay issued in one lump sum eight weeks after exiting, am I eligible for unemployment? Also, I have a pension that I can start to receive immediately, but my pension is not high enough to pay my bills and I need another job to survive. I’m in my mid-50s.

Official figures show that unemployment across the 19-country eurozone fell in December for the 15th month running to its lowest level in a little more than four years.

The Federal Labor Agency said Tuesday that 2.92 million people were registered as unemployed last month.

More Americans requested unemployment benefits last week, but the level remains near historic lows in a positive sign for the job market.