Unemployment Numbers
In the US unemployment numbers are blatantly underestimated. The governmant just released a sugarcoated number (U-3) of 8.5%, being months behind, leaving out many folks.
A more honest number (U-6) at least considers the folks who have been unemployed long enough to drop out of official unemployment support, this number is 15.9% at present.
Another number also considers people who are stuck in a low paying or a partime job. They generally end up with less than half the pay they would get for their skill level in more normal times. So it seems to be fair to call them 50% unemployed. Then the unemployement number would stand at 19.8% right now (according to ShadowStats.com).
Where are unemployent numbers in your country?
sneekula
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>>Another number also considers people who are stuck in a low paying or a partime job.
They are NOT unemployed! How can you possibly be considered unployed if you have a job and get a paycheck?
There are many unemployed people who are not counted in the unemployment rate. The Bureau of US Statistics does not count every enemployed person, but just takes a sample every month.
The Bureau of US Statistics
Who is counted as unemployed?
Persons are classified as unemployed if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work. Actively looking for work may consist of any of the following activities: Contacting: An employer directly or having a job interview
A public or private employment agency Friends or relatives
A school or university employment center
Sending out resumes or filling out applications
Placing or answering advertisements
Checking union or professional registers
Some other means of active job search
Ancient Dragon
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Not all of us get government pensions and government healthcare. There are plenty of hard working folks who used to make $40,000 a year and now have to support their family flipping hamburgers at $14,000 a year without health insurance. I would say that they are at least 50% unemployed.
sneekula
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>>I would say that they are at least 50% unemployed.
Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. And that is one reason why I think all companies should be required to provide health insurance for all their employees.
Ancient Dragon
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jephthah
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Hmm, partially employed and therefore partially unemployed, interesting!
I think the US government's U-6 number is probably more realistic. Nevada's high local unemployment number of 11% has hit illegal aliens pretty hard. They are not part of that number.
vegaseat
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Yeah, the U-6 is probably way more accurate considering these:Should we exclude people from the "official" unemployment numbers that want a job but can't find work?
Should we exclude people who have given up on finding a job completely?
Should we exclude people who are willing and able to work full-time, but are forced to take part-time jobs because of the poor economy?There are other considerations to keep in mind, such as that the US has one of the highest imprisonment rates in the world and it is probably a good guess that many of them would be unemployed if they were on the streets (this might be a stretch but worth thinking about).
GrimJack
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The number of folks in US prisons is about 2% of the number of employed folks. However, minorities have been particularly affected: One in nine black men ages 20 to 34 is behind bars.
sneekula
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The number of folks in US prisons is about 2% of the number of employed folks. However, minorities have been particularly affected: One in nine black men ages 20 to 34 is behind bars.
That's not true -- people in prisons are not counted as either employed or unemployes. They are non-people.
Ancient Dragon
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hmmm ...... well i dont know what the unemployment rate here in aus is but i think that schooling would be the way to go if you dont have a job (like me) also this is just my opinion but lets say someone did go and try to do there own thing money would not pile up stait away ,
it does take time and the banks/lenders are not going to wait for you they want there money when its due so in saying that i would rather be in prison than have to live on the street.... at least that way i know i am garrunteed to get 3 sqaure meals a day a roof over my head and a dry place to sleep..
chriswellings
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Spain has unemployment rate of 14%. Most African coutries are much higher than this, like Zimbabwe shows 80% in the CIA's World Factbook. So the US has a long way to go!
bumsfeld
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>So the US has a long way to go!
It'll take not very long to get there if the same socialist policies that are much to blame in Europe for the unemployment rates, continue to be adopted by Congress.
Aia
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>So the US has a long way to go!
It'll take not very long to get there if the same socialist policies that are much to blame in Europe for the unemployment rates, continue to be adopted by Congress.
EEK! Socialism! Heh,heh - next thing you know it will be fascism (oh, right - Rush's butt-boy Beck already screams fascism; he must not be very internet competent or not heard of Godwin's law).
GrimJack
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Well, Beck has really gone off the deep end lately so I wouldn't pay much attention anything he was screaming at this point.
Ezzaral
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Well, Beck has really gone off the deep end lately so I wouldn't pay much attention anything he was screaming at this point.
Yep. This video proves it: Beck - Loser lol
MosaicFuneral
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Ezzaral
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