What is full employment? An economist explains the latest jobs data

ads space The latest jobs report has gotten a lot of analysts, policymakers and talking heads once again asking whether the U.S. is at full employment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on May 4 that the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent, which is the lowest level since December 2000. The unemployment rate includes anyone 16 or older who is actively searching for work in its calculation, ads space