VOA标准英语2011--US Adds 80,000 Jobs in October, Unemployment Ticks Lower

US Adds 80,000 Jobs in October, Unemployment Ticks Lower

 

The U.S. economy added 80,000 jobs in October and the nation's unemployment rate edged down one tenth of a percentage point. The government also revised employment numbers higher for August and September - an encouraging sign as unemployed¹ Americans struggle to find footing in a difficult economy.

U.S. unemployment is at its lowest level in six months. But at 9 percent, it is still too high for the 13.9 million Americans out of work. One woman named Judy has been unemployed for more than a year. She said it is getting harder to stay positive.

"It's just so many people out here looking, and that's what's taking so long. I'm being patient, but some of these job interviews, I'm just saying, give me the job, give me the job! But there's just so many applicants," she said.

Like many others, Judy visits this unemployment office in Virginia looking for job leads. Recently laid off, Kevin Norris understands her frustration². He holds a Master's degree and has been working since he was 13.

"The idea of not working for a living, and you know, letting somebody else help me out and letting somebody else pay my bills, just, it drives me crazy. I don't even know how to really understand it, but that's the way things appear to be at the moment," said Norris.

Job Seekers line up for interviews during a job fair in San Mateo, California, September 2011. (file photo)

Despite forecasts for modest growth, analysts³ say companies are reluctant to hire until the economy gains traction⁴. But Virginia Employment Commission Manager Dottie Brown urges anyone looking for work not to give up. She said unemployed workers should take advantage of the center's job readiness programs.

"So we have resume writing, we do interviewing skills, we do mock interviews, we build morale⁵ back up. You're still the same wonderful person, you're just without a job. So when they come here, that's what we do, we get them ready for their next position, so job readiness is the key," said Brown.

Others says the fault lies with partisan⁶ politics in Washington. Gene⁷ Sperling is the director of the National Economic Council at the White House. He decries⁸ inaction on Capitol Hill over the president's job's bill.

"It is long past time for all of us to realize that long term unemployment is our true national economic crisis and that choosing to play politics as usual, or sit on our hands in the face of this crisis, is both irresponsible and inexcusable," said Sperling.

President Barack Obama has proposed a $447-billion jobs package to be paid for by higher taxes on wealthy Americans. Republicans have rejected the proposals, saying higher taxes will reduce hiring.

The recession that began in December 2007 wiped out nearly 8 million jobs. Since then the U.S. economy has added only about two million jobs.

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 traction   

n.牵引；附着摩擦力

参考例句：

• I'll show you how the traction is applied.我会让你看如何做这种牵引。
• She's injured her back and is in traction for a month.她背部受伤，正在作一个月的牵引治疗。

5 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

6 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

7 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

8 decries   

v.公开反对，谴责( decry的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Mr Basescu decries communism as criminal, but Bulgarian leaders only mumble. 巴塞斯库总统将共产主义比作犯罪，而对这个问题，保加利亚的领导人却避而不谈。 来自互联网
• A staunch materialist,he decries economy. 一个坚定的唯物主义者公开谴责经济。 来自互联网