The number of Americans filing jobless claims dropped last week and there was a slowdown in worker productivity, suggesting better times ahead for the U.S. labor market. Weaker productivity could mean a boost in hiring if companies are finding it difficult to squeeze more work out of existing employees. A Labor Department official said that part of the slide in weekly claims was due to a decline in the number of Florida residents seeking jobless assistance in connection with the hurricane.
See "Jobless Claims Dip, Productivity Slows", The New York Times, November 3, 2004