Employment

The pace of economic recovery seems likely to be moderately stronger in 2011 than it was in 2010 ... considerable time likely will be required before the unemployment rate has returned to a more normal level ... average hourly earnings have risen only 1.6 percent ... I hope that the Congress will seek reforms to the government's tax policies and spending priorities ... more »

"As business owners, women in 2007 had a major impact on the nation's economy, employing more than 7.6 million workers." Nearly half of all women-owned businesses operated in repair and maintenance; personal and laundry services; health care and social assistance; and professional, scientific and technical services. more »

When it comes to divorce, the Baby Boomers are less conservative than younger generations: 66% say divorce is preferable to staying in an unhappy marriage, compared with 54% of younger adults who say so. And a higher share of Boomers than older Americans (but not younger ones) say they have cut spending in the past year more »

President Barack Obama's recent announcement to freeze the pay of federal civilian workers did little to ice the debate over whether federal workers are overpaid or underpaid. Republican leaders and conservative think tanks claim federal workers are overpaid. They say the average federal worker is paid twice as much as those in the private sector. The federal Office of Personnel Management and unions that represent federal workers say on average they are paid 24 percent less than those in the private sector. Both sides are armed with official government statistics, but neither side is right. more »