Moody's Talks - Inside Economics

Sharing the Angst

Mar 7, 2025

Dante DeAntonio, Senior Director of Economic Research at Moody's Analytics, shares his insights on the February jobs report and the fragility of the labor market. The discussion uncovers how federal workforce cuts and inconsistent tariffs could impact the economy. They delve into rising unemployment rates and the effects of demographic shifts on labor participation. Dante also highlights his success in the stats game while the hosts reassess their recession probabilities, illuminating current economic uncertainties with engaging banter.

01:02:06

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Episode guests

Dante DeAntonio

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Quick takeaways

February job growth of 151,000 primarily stemmed from healthcare, indicating a troubling concentration in fewer sectors contributing to employment gains.

Wage growth has slowed to around 4% annually, reflecting stagnant economic momentum and raising concerns about the overall health of the labor market.

Federal employment cuts, estimated at 400,000 jobs, may have long-term implications for labor force growth and economic conditions amid ongoing trade uncertainties.

Deep dives

Current Job Growth Trends

Job growth in February showed an increase of 151,000, primarily driven by the private sector. However, this growth has been concentrated mainly in healthcare, while other sectors such as leisure and hospitality have begun to decline. This pattern indicates a troubling shift in job creation, suggesting that fewer industries are contributing to growth. The report highlights the potential vulnerability of the labor market as fewer sectors participate in ongoing job gains.

Intro

2min

Family Decisions and Digital Dilemmas

2min

Navigating Social Media Connections

2min

February Job Market Trends

13min

Federal Workforce Reductions: Impacts and Implications

7min

GDP Controversies and Economic Uncertainties

17min

Understanding Trade Deficits and Their Impacts

9min

Labor Market Dynamics and Economic Concerns

10min

Moody’s Analytics colleague, Dante DeAntonio joins the podcast to discuss the February jobs report, and the team shares their angst about potential cracks in the labor market. The conversation then turns to the potential impact of DOGE cuts to the federal workforce and the economic implications of the on-again, off-again tariffs that has developed in recent weeks. Finally, Dante celebrates his clean sweep in the stats game and Mark and Cris revise their recession probabilities.

Guest: Dante DeAntonio, Senior Director of Economic Research, Moody's Analytics

Hosts: Mark Zandi – Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Cris deRitis – Deputy Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics, and Marisa DiNatale – Senior Director - Head of Global Forecasting, Moody’s Analytics

Follow Mark Zandi on 'X', BlueSky or LinkedIn @MarkZandi, Cris deRitis on LinkedIn, and Marisa DiNatale on LinkedIn

Questions or Comments, please email us at helpeconomy@moodys.com. We would love to hear from you.

To stay informed and follow the insights of Moody's Analytics economists, visit Economic View.

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Moody's Talks - Inside Economics

Sharing the Angst

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Current Job Growth Trends

Stagnant Wages and Hours

Concerns Over Household Employment Data

Federal Government Cuts Impact

Impact of Trade Wars on Economic Stability

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts