Unemployment Situation

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: AUGUST 2006

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 128,000 in August, and the
unemployment rate was little changed at 4.7 percent, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Payroll employ-
ment grew notably over the month in education and health services; several
other industries had modest increases. Average hourly earnings rose by 2
cents, or 0.1 percent, in August following larger gains in the prior 2 months.

Unemployment (Household Survey Data)

The number of unemployed persons (7.1 million) and the unemployment rate (4.7
percent) were essentially unchanged in August. A year earlier, the number of un-
employed persons was 7.4 million, and the jobless rate was 4.9 percent.

Over the month, the unemployment rates for most major worker groups--adult men
(4.1 percent), adult women (4.1 percent), teenagers (16.2 percent), whites (4.1 per-
cent), and Hispanics (5.3 percent)--showed little or no change. The jobless rate for
blacks declined to 8.8 percent in August. The unemployment rate for Asians was 2.9
percent, not seasonally adjusted. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)

Brought to you by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and
Professional Resumes

Harmony

Everyone wants to live a balanced fulfilled life, but it isn't easy in today's hectic, fast-paced environment. Finding fulfillment is often considered impossible as putting food on the table and working 50-60 hour workweeks is the focus of most people's lives.

How can anyone achieve contentment, much less, balance, in their everyday existence?

One of the difficulties in finding peace (or balance) in life is that we tend to focus on other people's priorities instead of our own. We dare not take time to delve deeply into our own thoughts because our truest desires might run counter to what we do each day.

The first, and most important step in finding harmony in your life is to reflect on yourself. Are you doing what you want to do? If not, why not? How can you make changes in your life to include more of what you enjoy (value) and less of what you don't?

To live an unbalanced life is to live an unfulfilled one. If you want your life to actually count for something, take some time to figure out what your priorities are. Then, make the time to inject your priorities into your daily life. If you don't, you will never find peace. You will always be living in conflict.

To find out more about career planning, job growth, stress in the workplace and much more, visit:
Career Planning