Slight increase in unemployment numbers expected

Economists are expecting a small increase in the unemployment rate when the government releases its December labor report Friday.

A majority of economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect a modest loss of 8,000 jobs, edging the unemployment rate up to 10.1 percent from 10 percent.

Some, however, are predicting the nation will break its 23-month-long job losing streak and add to the nation's payroll.

Even if that's the case, a slight gain in jobs wouldn't be enough to lower the unemployment rate any time soon. Experts say the economy needs to generate more than 200,000 jobs a month to make a dent in the jobless rate.

As one expert puts it, "We are in for a long, hard slog in the labor market."

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APPHOTO NCCB202 (12/30/09)>>

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: In this photo made Wednesday Dec. 30, 2009, job seekers search for jobs online at an Employment Security Commission office in Charlotte, N.C. The number of people claiming unemployment benefits for the first time barely rose last week, after two weeks of sharp drops, further evidence that layoffs are easing.

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FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

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FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

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APPHOTO NYML302 (01/06/10)>>

: Richard Nnadi looks for a job in the restaurant industry in the New York State Labor Department's Division of Employment Services in Brooklyn, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. The number of people claiming unemployment benefits for the first time barely rose last week, after two weeks of sharp drops, further evidence that layoffs are easing.

APPHOTO NYML303 (01/06/10)>>

: A man searches through job listings in the New York State Labor Department's Division of Employment Services in Brooklyn, N.Y., Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. The number of people claiming unemployment benefits for the first time barely rose last week, after two weeks of sharp drops, further evidence that layoffs are easing.