The headline unemployment rate continues to improve, but mostly thanks to the way it's...

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davidingeorgia Comments (2696)
 
Nice to see the participation rate finally getting mentioned on a regular basis instead of just the useless headline rate.
4 May 2012, 09:12 AM Reply Like

WMARKW Comments (8385)
 
Hey no problem. Back in 1955 or so we had a 58% LPR. We've got 5.6 points we can drop and still be better than 1958 (when many women weren't in the workforce). That means with a Civilian Labor force of 150 million plus, we can still lose annother 8.4 million jobs (mostly male and under 25) and still be ok. So, don't worry. All is well. There's lots of places in the world where the women pull the lion's share of the work load.
4 May 2012, 10:10 AM Reply Like

mickmars Comments (1089)
 
Video game sales to spike up.

Can't tell you how many man-children are living with their parents in my neighborhood.
4 May 2012, 10:53 AM Reply Like

Tack Comments (9255)
 
Hey, why participate when you get paid to stay home?
4 May 2012, 10:53 AM Reply Like

Rummeljordan Comments (457)
 
Right, Uncle Obama has your back.
4 May 2012, 11:18 AM Reply Like

montanamark Comments (1359)
 
all the MSM still touting the dishonest 8.1% figure - the big lie only for the one
4 May 2012, 11:49 AM Reply Like

Tack Comments (9255)
 
Here's a reason why we'll likely see the participation rate increase in the near future (provided Congress doesn't make unemployment benefits a lifetime right):

http://bit.ly/J4u0Ab
4 May 2012, 01:08 PM Reply Like

Poor Texan Comments (3489)
 
Tack,

I agree that the suspension of benefits will push some to try to get back in the labor force, but are the jobs there? McDonalds can only hire so many. And the underground economy doesn't help the statistics (does it?).
4 May 2012, 02:59 PM Reply Like

ByondPolitics Comment (1)
 
You're confused. If you're receiving benefits you are counted as "participating" because you're actively looking for work.

There are many, many of us who are not employed but not counted in the 8.1% because we're not getting benefits. We are the reason that the participation rate is at a 3-decade-low. In the past month, the number of unemployed + the number not in the labor force grew by 350,000; that's twice the increase in population.

In the past year, 2.7 Million of us were forced out of the labor pool. We're the unemployed who are not counted and we're growing in number.


Read the report http://1.usa.gov/cfkqX9 pg 4
4 May 2012, 09:44 PM Reply Like

The Hammer Comments (2992)
 
I wonder how many of these non-participants have applied for ssdi.
soc sec disability. Numbers are going up probably not at this level, but govt transfer payments continue to soar.
Buffett keeps talking trash about housing and we need more housing activity. NO WE DON"T.

what we need are good Mfg jobs to produce highly energy efficient THINGS to sell and export. It is coming but it will take time. Unfortunately the Bernank is going to destroy the dollar first and it will happen in a coordinated effort by our competitors/enemies.

All they have to do is stop taking payments in dollars and demanding things...gold, wheat, corn.......tangible things.
4 May 2012, 04:13 PM Reply Like

WMARKW Comments (8385)
 
Hammer:
There were 9 million participants in 2006 in the Disability payments. For 2011 it was 11 million. The Civilian Labor Force is basically 154 million today and was 152 million in 2006.

At the end of 2006 there were 77.5 million NILF (not in labor force). Today it's 88.9 million NILF for a difference of 11.4 million. If the disabled jumped by 2 million then they account for about 18% of the increase in NILF. So basically 1 in 5 dropping out are going disabled in the last 6 years.
4 May 2012, 04:39 PM Reply Like

The Hammer Comments (2992)
 
hey WM good info! good work.
6 May 2012, 06:34 AM Reply Like