Intrinsically Linked, One with the Force The FOMC is mandated by Congress to promote maximum employment and price stability. The goals of our dual mandate are intrinsically linked. Specifically, price stability is essential for the economy to reach its full potential and to sustain maximum employment over the long term. Since the pandemic, imbalances between demand and supply have persisted throughout the economy, leading to high inflation and a tight labor market. Although we have seen some signs of a gradual cooling in the demand for labor—as well as for some goods and commodities—overall demand continues to exceed supply. I'll first discuss what this means for employment. At the national level, job growth has been robust, with monthly job gains averaging about 220,000 over the past three months. Other indicators show that labor demand is gradually slowing, yet remains very strong. For example, job openings have come down from their peak level in March of last year. Still, the ratio of job openings to unemployed far exceeds levels prevailing before the pandemic, when the labor market was very strong. Similarly, quit rates have been gradually declining, but are above pre-pandemic levels. In addition, the unemployment rate is at a historically low level of 3.4 percent. And in April, the employment-to-population ratio for those between the ages of 25 and 54 reached the highest level since 2001. The strength of the labor market is evident in parts of the Federal Reserve's Second District. Fairfield County in Connecticut has fully recovered from the pandemic.
Since the end of February the national currencies are no longer legal tender, the major exertion by society is over and life is beginning to return to normal in the euro countries. For Sweden, however, a changeover of banknotes and coins still lies ahead, if we were to say "yes" in a referendum on full membership of the monetary union. It is therefore important that all of us in various sectors of society take a look at how the changeover has worked in the different countries and learn from this. Today I intend to begin by discussing what experiences Sweden could learn from the cash changeover. After that, I shall say a few words about the timetable for a potential Swedish full participation in the third stage of EMU. The cash changeover in the EMU countries The overall picture painted by the ECB, the European Commission, embassies, central banks and media with regard to the euro introduction is that it has gone smoothly, and above all quickly. Only a few days into 2002 the euro was being used in most cash transactions and only a few of the problems that had been feared actually arose. On the other hand, other, rather more unexpected problems arose in the aftermath of the cash changeover, because of the rapid pace at which it occurred. I shall mention some factors here, both positive and negative, which have affected the outcome of the introduction of the euro.