Jobless Claims and the Employment Picture

Reader Comments
Back to blog

ehh.. love this thoughts )

Bypenear of AL 10:27AM December 13, 2009

Unemployment numbers only include unemployment benefits claims, which account for only a portion of the truly unemployed. To make matters worse, unemployment benefits were cut from 18 months to 6 months during the Bush administration, causing the total number to not include people unemployed for more than 6 months (which many people are). This cut in help to the out-of-work improved overall "unemployment numbers" (to make the administration look better) by effectively reducing the numbers on a technicality. So, there are far more people unemployed that is being reported.

of TX 12:06PM October 31, 2008

The problem is not just temporary job loss like the recessions of old. The PROBLEM is that jobs lost in manufacturing are coming back (when they come back at all in places like McDonalds, Walmart and too many real estate agents and car salesmen trying to build a dream on commission only.
We need the manufacturing base back, and wind turbines, solar panels, and hydrogen cars are one way to get it back. Another way is being more careful whether trade agreements benefit any PEOPLE on both sides of borders or merely benefit corporations.
We've already goofed that up pretty badly.

of 3:09PM October 30, 2008