Report shows hiring at lowest since 2009 as economists turn to alternative data during shutdown blackout
1. Unemployment remained steady at 4.34%, close to a significant rise. 2. Layoff rates unchanged at 2.1%, but hiring rates dropped to 45.2%. 3. Year-to-date layoffs totaled 946,426, 24% higher than all of 2024. 4. New hirings at 204,939, the lowest since 2009, signaling economic concerns. 5. Government shutdown affects timely labor data release, causing uncertainty.