Experts reckon this number will keep rising for several reasons, including a sluggish jobs market and workers' growing desire for the flexibility to be able to look after parents or children.

专家认为这一数字将保持增长的原因有几个，其中包括就业市场的反应迟缓和工人们日益期望能够照顾父母或孩子。

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If only the fundamental determinants of growth were involved, America could look forward to a mild recession in the first part of 2009, giving way to sluggish recovery by year-end.

如果仅仅与增长的基本因素有关，美国可以指望从今年年底不景气的恢复中结束，进入2009年后第一阶段的轻度衰退。

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Jobless claims showed some modest deterioration on a survey week-to-survey week basis, so we look for a sluggish rise in employment.

首次申请失业救济人数表现出一定的一项调查为期一周的调查周的基础上略有恶化，因此，我们期待在就业低迷的崛起。

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When the Dutch were hammered 3-0 by Germany in an exhibition game last November, the Germans' possession-oriented game and fluidity of movement made the Dutch look decidedly sluggish.

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Of course, there are other concerns: Patent expirations, and sales that look like they may be more sluggish than Deaney expected.

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Martin Barnes of Bank Credit Analyst, a research firm, points out that the direction of official policy (low rates, quantitative easing, big deficits) looks inflationary but the economic fundamentals (a big output gap, sluggish credit growth) look deflationary.

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