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UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN.
The national unemployment rate was historically low in 2018 at 3.7%, but rates differed across the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest unemployment rates were 1.4% in Ames, IA and 2.3% in the Nashville, TN metro area. El Centro, CA at 17.3% and Yuma, AZ at 15.4% had among the highest unemployment.
MORE UNINSURED.
A Gallup Poll found that the rate of Americans without health insurance rose to a four-year high. One reason could be the repeal of the individual mandate, but the rate has been rising since 2016 before the mandate was repealed. The U.S. adult uninsured rate was at 13.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018, up 2.8 percentage points from its 2016 low. Gallup reports that's an increase of 7 million uninsured adults.
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DANGER AHEAD.
BLS compiled statistics on work-related fatalities from 2003 to 2017 and, not surprisingly, found jobs entailing physical labor were among the most hazardous. Tractor trailer drivers, ranchers and farmers, and public safety officers experienced the highest number of deaths. Logging and commercial fishing had the highest rates of fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. Those who worked in retail, finance and other office jobs had among the lowest rates of deaths.
TIME OUT.
More from the BLS: The agency looked at consolidated leave plans in 2018 and found the average paid time off for those with these combo plans (sick, personal and vacation) was 14 days after one year of service and 24 days after 20 years. Those who had paid vacation days, not consolidated time, averaged nine days at one year of service and 18 days after 20 years.
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