Job Quits & Unemployment

These three charts provide a multi-faceted view of employment dynamics and their potential correlation with the U.S. stock market, represented by the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Full Cap Index.

Chart 1: Unemployment Rate vs Market Performance

1. Unemployment Rate: This measures the percentage of the total workforce that is unemployed and actively seeking employment.

2. Wilshire 5000 Index: This represents the overall U.S. stock market performance.

Chart 2: Job Quits Rates

1. Quits Rate (Government, Total Private, and Total Nonfarm): These metrics indicate the rate at which workers are voluntarily leaving their jobs in the government sector, the private sector, and across all nonfarm industries respectively.

Chart 3: Local Unemployment Rates & Consumer Price Index

1. Unemployment Rates in Different Locations: These track the unemployment rates in Columbus, OH (MSA); Columbus, GA-AL (MSA); Columbus, IN (MSA); and Columbus County, NC.

2. Median Consumer Price Index: This shows the median change in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services.

Viewing these elements in conjunction, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of how employment trends may impact the overall market sentiment and performance.

Potential Interpretations:

Positive Scenario: If unemployment rates are declining, job quits are stable or declining (indicating employee satisfaction), and the Wilshire 5000 Index is trending upwards, it suggests a healthy economy with robust employment conditions, potentially bolstering investor confidence.

Negative Scenario: If unemployment rates are rising, job quits are increasing (potentially indicating worker dissatisfaction), and the Wilshire 5000 Index is falling, this could signal economic stress. Rising unemployment could undermine consumer spending, and high quit rates could indicate labor market instability, both potentially causing investor wariness.