August Unemployment Rate Expected to Remain Steady

Posted September 2nd, 2011 at 7:30 am (UTC-5)
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Analysts believe the U.S. unemployment rate will remain stuck at 9.1 percent when the government releases its monthly jobs report Friday.

Most economists predict the figures will show at least 90,000 jobs were added to the anemic U.S. economy last month. If the forecasts hold true, it would be well below the 250,000 jobs that needs to be added every month to bring down the high unemployment rate, which has been at 9 percent or more since May.

The economy added 117,000 new jobs in July.

The two-week strike by about 45,000 employees of Verizon Communications is also expected to lower the August job figures.

U.S. President Barack Obama will introduce a plan to stimulate the national economy and create jobs in a speech before a joint session of Congress next Thursday.