Fed’s Barkin Says Jobs Report Shows Low-Hiring Climate Persists

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin said fresh employment data reflects modest jobs growth and a continued low-hiring environment.

Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday showed employers added 50,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.4%.

Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin.

Photographer: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg

“This fine balance between a modest job growth environment with a modest labor-supply growth environment seems to be continuing, and that was encouraging,” Barkin told reporters Friday.

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The Richmond Fed chief said the current jobs landscape reflects uncertainty among businesses, and productivity gains ...