Another 444,000 Americans filed first time unemployment claims last week, reaching the lowest level since March 2020. At the opposite end of the unemployment spectrum, 4.2 million Americans are long-term unemployed, meaning they’ve been jobless for 27 weeks or more. On today’s show: The history of long-term unemployment in the U.S. Also, businesses are now the most trusted institution in the world, expanding Medicaid could produce more than 1 million new jobs in 2022, and the U.S. and China clash over international tech standards.

Cheers to making it through this year! Donate today and celebrate the Marketplace way, with our stock market inspired drink recipes: marketplace.org/donate