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You can see the US job market improving

By Matt Phillips
Published

UPDATE: The latest numbers are in. Check out Quartz’s informative, graphical looks at the data here and here.

Before the big jobs report hits at 8:30 a.m., check out these charts. Though there is still a long way to go, they tell a clear story of improvement in the US labor market.

Weekly jobless claims are now below the 400,000-level that has long been seen as a barrier to sustainable job creation.

Even taking the recent spike higher into account, the four-week moving average—which gives a clearer sense of the trend—is at its lowest point since 2008.

The not-always-accurate ADP private sector jobs report has been signaling improvement.

And the unemployment rate has been moving steadily lower, amid steady—if less than spectacular—job creation.

Check back in a few as we’ll be adding charts up until the numbers hit at 8:30 a.m.

 

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