| Economics columnist Catherine Rampell had one word for Friday's jobs report: Oof. The sentiment echoed across her social media, too, and for good reason: Of the 500,000 payroll jobs forecast to add on net in September, only 194,000 materialized. "We're still down about 5 million jobs since February 2020, the month before the pandemic was declared," Rampell writes. "And while we've been steadily filling in that hole for a while now, the hole remains very deep and is filling in much too slowly." Rampell attributes the shortfall to the delta variant, to the unvaccinated — and to Americans who want "a break from the grind entirely." Columnist Megan McArdle picked up on this last element, too, in her analysis of the lackluster numbers. "Given how bad the old normal was in many corners of the American labor market, it's great news that workers finally feel their bargaining position is strong enough to demand something better," she writes. "At least, it's good news if they're actually right." See, companies seem to be adapting to life with fewer employees, and only time will show whether these burnt-out workers get what they want — or get left behind. Oof, indeed.  (Charles Krupa/AP) The effects of covid are all over this report. By Catherine Rampell ● Read more » | | | | The pandemic has created a bizarre labor shortage. And it's unclear how it will end. By Megan McArdle ● Read more » | | | Yet another Trump-led brush with autocracy. By Ruth Marcus ● Read more » | | | | A case involving UCLA's Anderson School of Management merits special attention because some malicious individuals might be held accountable. By George F. Will ● Read more » | | | | It's time for the United States and its allies to rethink their China policies. By David Von Drehle ● Read more » | | | | Scalia law student Crystal Clanton appears to have sent a racist text. Now she has a clerkship with a prominent judge — and a shot at a Supreme Court clerkship. By Ruth Marcus ● Read more » | | | | Trump's rage at the Jan. 6 probe will make any serious reform push harder. By Greg Sargent ● Read more » | | | I'm a half-Filipina writer who for 15 years hid behind a French nom de plume. I thought it brought me power — but it came with a price. By Annabelle Tometich ● Read more » | | | | The only answer is real, far-reaching change dictated by players themselves. By Kaiya McCullough ● Read more » | | | | Though many people have been frustrated over the profound educational challenges posed by the pandemic, only a small minority objects to the paths their local school districts have taken in response to this once-in-a-century crisis. By Stephen J. Farnsworth and Sally Burkley ● Read more » | | | | Laying blame for violent crime is easy. Carrying out real solutions is hard. By Colbert I. King ● Read more » | | | | Both candidates for governor got the issue wrong at their debate. By Patrick Jaicomo and Chad Reese ● Read more » | | | | Most lawyers pride themselves on upholding high ideals of equality and fairness under the law. If ever there were a time for them to labor in service to these principles, that moment is now. By Chad Sarchio, Anna Blackburne-Rigsby and Anita Josey-Herring ● Read more » | | | |
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