"U.S. Economy in Worst Hiring Slump in 20 Years"
The economy has fallen into its worst hiring slump in almost 20 years, and many business executives say they remain unsure when it will end.

- David Leonhardt of the New York Times, February 6, 2002

"Unemployment Rate Falls in January"
The nation's unemployment rate dropped to 5.7 percent in January as businesses added 143,000 new jobs, a shot of good news for an ailing economy.
The increase in payroll jobs, mostly in the retail area, was the largest since November 2000, said Friday's Labor Department report. The overall rate dropped by 0.3 percentage point from the 6 percent rate in December that matched an 8-year high.
Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to hold steady at 6 percent for a third straight month, with a more modest increase in payrolls.

- David Leonhardt of the New York Times, February 6, 2002
(Link via Robert Musil, who has much more.)