Economic indicators

Employers continue to chip away at filling a near-record number of open positions.

According to a new PNC survey, 56% are feeling hopeful about the road forward.

The deceleration in hiring likely reflects both growing fears about the rapidly spreading delta variant of COVID-19 and difficulties filling vacant positions.

Sixty-nine percent of working mothers plan to remain out of work to care for their children, according to a survey by TopResume.

"We call it the “Donut Effect.” The places losing the most people are centers of big cities," says Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford University economist.

Difficulty attracting workers is slowing momentum in the labor market.

The job market is strengthening as employers look to fill positions left empty by the pandemic.

The pandemic has pushed out older employees and is deepening inequality as lower income workers feel the brunt of the crisis.

Many economists expect to see job prospects, and economic growth, improve in the coming months as vaccinations pick up and virus concerns ease further.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that low-wage earners, minorities and women are suffering the most and could face “permanent” damage from a prolonged slowdown.