RECOVERY STILL JOBLESS: The Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly employment numbers for metro areas are out today. Nonfarm employment for the Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria metro area was 1,107,200 in April, up about 6,000 jobs compared to March. But these are "non-seasonally-adjusted" numbers -- meaning that they don't take into account the fact that employment always ticks up in April compared to March. Compared to April 2003, the April 2004 job count is down by about 800.

Bottom line: Cleveland metro-area employment is essentially unchanged from a year ago. And from two years ago, for that matter.