4 ms·

And yet actual employment rate has dropped slightly, though it has been relatively consistent - https://www.statista.com/statistics/192398/employment-rate-in-th

And yet actual employment rate has dropped slightly, though it has been relatively consistent - https://www.statista.com/statistics/192398/employment-rate-in-the-us-since-1990/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/192398/employment-rate-i... In reality, like inflation or jobs reports, the numbers are really just a shell game played by politically inclined departments. To put it simply, the actual employment rate is down ~2% since 2008. In real terms, we have ~2% less Americans employed since 2008. That said ~60% currently are employed. That’s because the government calculates the unemployment rate as “those seeking employment” but there’s a bunch of criteria for that. In truth, 40% of people aren’t working, 60% are.

vinniepukh 3y ago
I'm seeking employment right now. How do I make sure the government knows that? Is there a number I can call to make sure I'm included in the statistics?
- creer 3y ago
  You don't call them. They call you (but very few people really - so most likely not you).
throwaway5959 3y ago
If someone retires, are they unemployed? Baby boomers started retiring in 2008 and continue to.
- tuatoru 3y ago
  If, when surveyed by the BLS, they say that they are working (part time, whatever) or have looked for work in the last six weeks, they are counted as "in the labor force". (New jargon: "economically active".) Unemployment figures are subject to more massage.
tuatoru 3y ago
FRED (using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics) claims that 83% of men, and 78% of women, aged 25 - 54 are working. In the prime working years, there isn't much of a problem, if any. (The data series are Activity Rate: Aged 25 - 54 years: Males for United States, and Activity Rate: Aged 25 - 54 years: Females for United States.) Adults younger than 25 are often still in school, although there is a growing share of stay-at-homes. Older than 54, well, they may have enough, or they may have health problems. Just saying "40% of people aren't working" presents a less-than-nuanced picture. Some of them are kids and the very old.

vinniepukh 3y ago

I'm seeking employment right now. How do I make sure the government knows that? Is there a number I can call to make sure I'm included in the statistics?

creer 3y ago
You don't call them. They call you (but very few people really - so most likely not you).

throwaway5959 3y ago

If someone retires, are they unemployed? Baby boomers started retiring in 2008 and continue to.

tuatoru 3y ago
If, when surveyed by the BLS, they say that they are working (part time, whatever) or have looked for work in the last six weeks, they are counted as "in the labor force". (New jargon: "economically active".) Unemployment figures are subject to more massage.

tuatoru 3y ago

FRED (using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics) claims that 83% of men, and 78% of women, aged 25 - 54 are working. In the prime working years, there isn't much of a problem, if any. (The data series are Activity Rate: Aged 25 - 54 years: Males for United States, and Activity Rate: Aged 25 - 54 years: Females for United States.) Adults younger than 25 are often still in school, although there is a growing share of stay-at-homes. Older than 54, well, they may have enough, or they may have health problems. Just saying "40% of people aren't working" presents a less-than-nuanced picture. Some of them are kids and the very old.