Econintersect: The pollster Gallup reports that the increase in companies hiring and the decrease reducing employment are both continuing on the trends started in the first quarter of 2009 during the next to last quarter of the Great Recession (GR). Since the first quarter of 2010 the number of employees reporting their firms are hiring has been greater than the number reporting reductions, and the spread has been steadily widening.
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In June the Gallup Job Creation Index recorded a reading of 22, indentical to May, exceeding the previous post-GR high of 20 reached twice in 2012. The level of 22 was last seen in early 2008 at the beginning of the GR.
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The index has its highest readings in the South and West, while the East continues its recent history of lagging other parts of the country.
Over the first six months of 2013 the West has shown the best average, followed by the South, but the Midwest has shown by far the greatest improvement.
Source:
- U.S. Job Creation Steady at Best Level in Five Years (Lydia Saad, Gallup Economy, 03 June 2013)