US DATA: NFIB statement on the April job numbers: “April was
another tenuous month… The net change in employment per firm
(seasonally adjusted) came in at 0.1; this is down from March but still
positive. Seasonally adjusted, 12 percent of owners surveyed added an
average of 3.3 workers per firm over the past few months, and 14 percent
reduced employment an average of 2.9 workers per firm. The remaining 74
percent of owners made no net change in employment… 47% of owners
hired or tried to hire in the last three months. Thirty-four (34)
percent of owners (or 72 percent of those trying to hire or hiring)
reported few or no qualified applicants for positions.”