US unemployment rate in August:US unemployment rate reached 9.7% and created a new high in 26 years
216,000 US employers were laid off in August, which pushed the unemployment rate up to 9.7% and created a new high in 26 years, the official figures show.
The unemployment rate rose after 9.4% in July, but the Labor Department said the job loss figure was the smallest in a year. Since the start of the depression in December 2007, the economy has shed 6.9 million jobs, the department said. Jobs have been lost among the manufacturing and service industries. However, the total unemployment stands at 14.9 million.
Analysts expected the U.S. unemployment rate would rise to 9.5% and job reductions to total 225,000. Although there are signs showing that the US economy is now recovering from the worst recession in 70 years, unemployment was still high, which still dampens any economic rebound.
2009 Top 500 Chinese Enterprises released, Sinopec ranks the first at the list for 5 consecutive years
September 5 this afternoon, the annual top 500 Chinese enterprises are released. According to China Central Television, Sinopec with 1.46 trillion yuan of business revenue ranks the first at the list for 5 consecutive years
Top 500 Chinese Enterprises in 2009, the top ten are:
1. Sinopec Group
2. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)
3. State Grid Corporation of China
4. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited
5. China Mobile Communications Corporation
6. China Construction Bank Corporation
7. China Life Insurance Group
8. Bank of China Limited
9. Agricultural Bank of China Limited
10. China Petrochemical Corporation
Microsoft layoffs in Washington State: Sources say Microsoft intends to lay off 27 people in Washington State
September 5 morning news, according to “The Seattle Times” report yesterday that Microsoft plans to lay off 27 people in its Redmond and Bellevue departments.
The report says that Microsoft plans to lay off these employees on November 1 and has informed Washington State Employment Security.
Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos said: “I can confirm the company to cut costs and improve efficiency plan includes 27 layoffs in Washington State, as well as other parts of the nation’s layoffs,” “While layoffs are very difficult to carry! However, these actions are necessary to the company for re-allocation of resources. ”
Microsoft in January announced that it would lay off 5,000 employees in the next 18 months,. It is reported that most of layoff plans have been completed. At present, Microsoft’s global workforce is about 92000 people.
Microsoft had not yet been reached for comment.
Translate (most links are in Chinese)