Can someone explain to me how the unemployment statistics

[closeupready]

as we have them today are misleading as to understating the true level of unemployment? thanks in advance.

[GodlessBiker]

1. The statistic does not count those who have given up looking or have taken a part-time job.

Reality is worse than the unemployment figure suggests.

[Lost4words]

3. You Betcha!

I think a truly accurate count would surprise even us, not to mention the UNDER-EMPLOYED.

[prolesunited]

4. Yes, there are millions of people who are underemployed

They have run out of benefits and taken any job available just to have some income.

[eridani]

9. Doesn't count non-violent drug users in prison and their useless guards either

Probably more significant than fudged numbers in determining our differences from the rest of the industrialized world.

[marketcrazy1]

2. Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

[closeupready]

5. Right, but long ago, the stats were more accurate - didn't Reagan

initiate some sort of changes to the method of collecting the stats which rendered them less useful, but made employment stats look better?

[marketcrazy1]

8. are you thinking

of the birth/death model?? started using it in 2000???

[closeupready]

10. Yeah, that may be it.

I just recall that a while back, it was compiled differently, and over time, it's been neutered so as not to embarrass whoever is the current occupant of the Oval Office.

[TimesSquareCowboy]

11. Well, Clinton did, too.

And the reporting is not for every employer - the BLS takes the actual numbers they have and guesses at how many additional jobs were created. There's a columnist in the NY Post who's been covering this and other government statistics fudging for a long time, it's interesting to read.

[Wilber_Stool]

6. The numbers don't

indicate the people that have never had a job because they are just now entering the work force.

[GodlessBiker]

7. That's a good point. New grads from undergraduate, law, business schools.

[ThomWV]

12. Short answer: When your unemployment runs out they quit counting you

Doesn't matter if you are still looking for a job or not.

[TimesSquareCowboy]

13. I posted an article that puts the real number at 13.9%

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3727036

[closeupready]

14. Ah, right - thanks!

n/t