, Columnist
Why the U.S. Needs a Strong Jobs Report
A strong showing would be good for the economy, but it also could create a conundrum for the Fed.
Will June follow May?
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. economy needs the monthly employment data that will be released on Friday to include a rebound in job creation, higher wage growth and an increase in the labor participation rate. That is also what the Federal Reserve and investors need to enable both the orderly normalization of monetary policy over the long term and sustainable improvements in economic and financial well-being. Yet, ironically, the immediate effect of an upbeat jobs report would be to add confusion to markets and policy-making, which are already coping with "unusual uncertainty."
QuickTake The Monthly U.S. Jobs Report