HERE’S AN INTERESTING REPORT ON EMPLOYMENT, from the Joint Economic Committee. Some highlights:

* Job markets are strengthening. Initial claims have fallen
repeatedly and substantially over the last eight months to levels not
seen since before the recession.

* The terrorist attacks of 9/11 had a significant impact on
employment. Initial jobless claims spiked up to almost 500,000 in the
aftermath of the attacks.

* Labor markets began to weaken in 2000; initial claims began to
increase early in the year, growing from below 300,000 to around 350,000
per week.

Sounds like good news.