According to Freddie Mac, 30-year mortgage rates are 6.46% and 15-year rates are 5.77% as of April 2, 2026. The following chart shows the 30-year mortgage rate trend over the last year.

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The times they are a-changin’.

That may be a Bob Dylan song from 1964. But it also describes the labor market in the United States in the last several years.

A little less than four years ago, 70% of U.S. workers said it was a good time to find a quality job. Indeed, the market was skewed toward workers, not companies. Those willing to job-hop or leverage other offers could increase their salaries.

Those times are going, going, gone. Just 28% of workers say it’s still a good time to find a quality job – including just 19% of college graduates.

The Labor Department reported better numbers in March, with the U.S. adding 178,000 nonfarm jobs. That’s on the heels of a revised loss of 133,000 jobs in February.

But the zoomed-out, longer-term trend has been down.

AI automation and some high-profile layoffs have contributed. But all is not lost. The market is more “frozen” than sickly … meaning that many companies are neither hiring or firing.

It’s an interesting time to be in the job market. For a lot of people, it’s a good time to hold onto the job you have. But it’s also a reminder to be prepared.

If you do find yourself facing a layoff, it may take longer than expected to land your next role in a slower hiring environment. That makes having a solid emergency fund more important than ever — giving you the financial cushion to weather a longer job search without added stress.

It’s time for "Clark Stinks!" Christa reads the latest "Clark Stinks!" submissions and Clark responds. Also, criminals want your phone, your bank account, and your money. Clark discusses a frightening new security threat specifically targeting iPhone users: DarkSword. This sophisticated spyware can dig deep into your device, giving hackers access to almost everything you have stored. The good news? The "fix" is incredibly simple. Clark breaks down the essential "software hygiene" you need to stay safe and why you shouldn't ignore those pesky update notifications. He also dives into the next generation of online security – Passkeys – and why they are vastly superior to traditional passwords.

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.