Market Observer articles
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Market ObserverJob lock is rising: 24% of insured U.S. workers stay put for health coverage.A West Health-Gallup survey finds about 24% of U.S. workers with employer coverage stayed in a job they wanted to leave in 2025 to keep their insurance, up from 16% in 2021. Here is what the number supports, what it does not, and what you can do about it.MeritLog Team · Aug 18, 2026 · 6 min read
Market ObserverThe July 2026 jobs report, read in full: payrolls fell 23,000 and revisions cut 103,000.Payrolls fell by 23,000 in July while unemployment held at 4.1%. Revisions removed another 103,000 jobs from May and June. A section-by-section reading of what the BLS release says, what it does not, and which lines matter most.MeritLog Team · Aug 18, 2026 · 14 min read
Market ObserverJobless claims rose to 209,000. Why that calm number describes a frozen market.Weekly jobless claims rose to 209,000 in August 2026 and stayed historically low, while hiring ran at about 61,000 jobs a month. Low firing and low hiring are different things, and the gap between them explains why a search takes longer than the headline suggests.MeritLog Team · Aug 18, 2026 · 13 min read