Marketplace All-in-One The weak spot in this job market
Jan 9, 2026
Catherine Rampell, an insightful economic commentator, joins Kristen Schwab, a Marketplace reporter, and Jessi Dean, founder of Asheville Tea Company. They dive into the troubling rise of long-term unemployment, now at 26%, illustrating the labor market's fragility. Rampell discusses the implications for Fed policies amid a hiring recession. Dean shares her inspiring story of rebuilding her tea business post-Hurricane Helene, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity. It's a compelling look at economic challenges and triumphs!
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Labor Market Fragility
- Many industries have lost jobs year over year, with healthcare and leisure as notable exceptions.
- Catherine Rampell says the economy shows fragility, especially for blue-collar sectors.
Stalled Unemployment Rate
- Unemployment has hovered around 4.4% since September, indicating stability but no clear improvement.
- Heather Long calls the situation a "hiring recession" where only a few sectors are hiring.
Pre-Release Data Breach Risk
- Sharing unreleased jobs data publicly is a major breach because those numbers move markets.
- Catherine Rampell warns insiders could profit from leaked pre-release data.