Notice how the Obama years finally got back up to pre-'bama years' total employed around May of 2014.. six years in the making; to wit, Jan 2008 (138,365,000) and May 2014 (138,497,000). But there are still problems for Obama. How much did the working-age population grow in those six years? How many full-time jobs were there?
The additions to the working age population got jobs?
The labor force participation has shrunk and that is the only reason that the unemployment rate decreased. Even the MSM employees have had to admit that.
The Reagan years were more typical of the business cycles that I remember from post W.W.II years. There were 99,303,000 employed in 1980. Off to a slow start it was 1984 before there was a significant increase (to 105,005,000). But six years of Reagan (Jan, 1981 - Dec, 1986) employed went from under 100,000,000 to 109,597,000 employed. IOW the unemployed went back to work and the increased working-age population found jobs. Not so with Obama. Ii appears to me. The labor force participation was higher also.
Select: Total nonfarm, Seasonally adjusted; scroll down to Retrieve Data button
Total nonfarm 2004 - 2014
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | 130747 | 130791 | 131123 | 131372 | 131679 | 131753 | 131785 | 131917 | 132079 | 132425 | 132490 | 132619 | |
2005 | 132753 | 132992 | 133126 | 133489 | 133664 | 133909 | 134282 | 134478 | 134545 | 134629 | 134966 | 135125 | |
2006 | 135402 | 135717 | 135997 | 136179 | 136202 | 136279 | 136486 | 136670 | 136827 | 136829 | 137039 | 137210 | |
2007 | 137448 | 137536 | 137724 | 137802 | 137946 | 138017 | 137984 | 137968 | 138053 | 138135 | 138253 | 138350 | |
2008 | 138365 | 138279 | 138199 | 137985 | 137803 | 137631 | 137421 | 137162 | 136710 | 136236 | 135471 | 134774 | |
2009 | 133976 | 133275 | 132449 | 131765 | 131411 | 130944 | 130617 | 130401 | 130174 | 129976 | 129970 | 129687 | |
2010 | 129705 | 129655 | 129811 | 130062 | 130578 | 130456 | 130395 | 130353 | 130296 | 130537 | 130674 | 130745 | |
2011 | 130815 | 130983 | 131195 | 131517 | 131619 | 131836 | 131942 | 132064 | 132285 | 132468 | 132632 | 132828 | |
2012 | 133188 | 133414 | 133657 | 133753 | 133863 | 133951 | 134111 | 134261 | 134422 | 134647 | 134850 | 135064 | |
2013 | 135261 | 135541 | 135682 | 135885 | 136084 | 136285 | 136434 | 136636 | 136800 | 137037 | 137311 | 137395 | |
2014 | 137539 | 137761 | 137964 | 138268 | 138497 | 138764 | 139007 | 139210 | 139481 | 139724 | 140045 |
You may have to search for "Most-Requested CPS Tables" then select Employment status of the population, 1940s to date
Civilian | labor | force | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Employed | Unemployed | |||||||||
Year | Civilian noninstitutional population |
Total | Percent of population |
Total | Percent of population |
Agri- culture |
Nonagri- cultural industries |
Number | Percent of labor force |
Not in labor force |
Persons 14 years of age and over |
||||||||||
1943 | 94,640 | 55,540 | 58.7 | 54,470 | 57.6 | 9,080 | 45,390 | 1,070 | 1.9 | 39,100 |
1944 |
93,220 | 54,630 | 58.6 | 53,960 | 57.9 | 8,950 | 45,010 | 670 | 1.2 | 38,590 | |
1945 | 94,090 | 53,860 | 57.2 | 52,820 | 56.1 | 8,580 | 44,240 | 1,040 | 1.9 | 40,230 |
1946 | 103,070 | 57,520 | 55.8 | 55,250 | 53.6 | 8,320 | 46,930 | 2,270 | 3.9 | 45,550 |
1947 | 106,018 | 60,168 | 56.8 | 57,812 | 54.5 | 8,256 | 49,557 | 2,356 | 3.9 | 45,850 |
Persons 16 years of age and over |
||||||||||
1947 | 101,827 | 59,350 | 58.3 | 57,038 | 56.0 | 7,890 | 49,148 | 2,311 | 3.9 | 42,477 |
1948 | 103,068 | 60,621 | 58.8 | 58,343 | 56.6 | 7,629 | 50,714 | 2,276 | 3.8 | 42,447 |
1949 | 103,994 | 61,286 | 58.9 | 57,651 | 55.4 | 7,658 | 49,993 | 3,637 | 5.9 | 42,708 |
1950 | 104,995 | 62,208 | 59.2 | 58,918 | 56.1 | 7,160 | 51,758 | 3,288 | 5.3 | 42,787 |
1951 | 104,621 | 62,017 | 59.2 | 59,961 | 57.3 | 6,726 | 53,235 | 2,055 | 3.3 | 42,604 |
1952 | 105,231 | 62,138 | 59.0 | 60,250 | 57.3 | 6,500 | 53,749 | 1,883 | 3.0 | 43,093 |
1953 | 107,056 | 63,015 | 58.9 | 61,179 | 57.1 | 6,260 | 54,919 | 1,834 | 2.9 | 44,041 |
1954 | 108,321 | 63,643 | 58.8 | 60,109 | 55.5 | 6,205 | 53,904 | 3,532 | 5.5 | 44,678 |
1955 | 109,683 | 65,023 | 59.3 | 62,170 | 56.7 | 6,450 | 55,722 | 2,852 | 4.4 | 44,660 |
1956 | 110,954 | 66,552 | 60.0 | 63,799 | 57.5 | 6,283 | 57,514 | 2,750 | 4.1 | 44,402 |
1957 | 112,265 | 66,929 | 59.6 | 64,071 | 57.1 | 5,947 | 58,123 | 2,859 | 4.3 | 45,336 |
1958 | 113,727 | 67,639 | 59.5 | 63,036 | 55.4 | 5,586 | 57,450 | 4,602 | 6.8 | 46,088 |
1959 | 115,329 | 68,369 | 59.3 | 64,630 | 56.0 | 5,565 | 59,065 | 3,740 | 5.5 | 46,960 |
1960 | 117,245 | 69,628 | 59.4 | 65,778 | 56.1 | 5,458 | 60,318 | 3,852 | 5.5 | 47,617 |
1961 | 118,771 | 70,459 | 59.3 | 65,746 | 55.4 | 5,200 | 60,546 | 4,714 | 6.7 | 48,312 |
1962 | 120,153 | 70,614 | 58.8 | 66,702 | 55.5 | 4,944 | 61,759 | 3,911 | 5.5 | 49,539 |
1963 | 122,416 | 71,833 | 58.7 | 67,762 | 55.4 | 4,687 | 63,076 | 4,070 | 5.7 | 50,583 |
1964 | 124,485 | 73,091 | 58.7 | 69,305 | 55.7 | 4,523 | 64,782 | 3,786 | 5.2 | 51,394 |
1965 | 126,513 | 74,455 | 58.9 | 71,088 | 56.2 | 4,361 | 66,726 | 3,366 | 4.5 | 52,058 |
1966 | 128,058 | 75,770 | 59.2 | 72,895 | 56.9 | 3,979 | 68,915 | 2,875 | 3.8 | 52,288 |
1967 | 129,874 | 77,347 | 59.6 | 74,372 | 57.3 | 3,844 | 70,527 | 2,975 | 3.8 | 52,527 |
1968 | 132,028 | 78,737 | 59.6 | 75,920 | 57.5 | 3,817 | 72,103 | 2,817 | 3.6 | 53,291 |
1969 | 134,335 | 80,734 | 60.1 | 77,902 | 58.0 | 3,606 | 74,296 | 2,832 | 3.5 | 53,602 |
1970 | 137,085 | 82,771 | 60.4 | 78,678 | 57.4 | 3,463 | 75,215 | 4,093 | 4.9 | 54,315 |
1971 | 140,216 | 84,382 | 60.2 | 79,367 | 56.6 | 3,394 | 75,972 | 5,016 | 5.9 | 55,834 |
1972 | 144,126 | 87,034 | 60.4 | 82,153 | 57.0 | 3,484 | 78,669 | 4,882 | 5.6 | 57,091 |
1973 | 147,096 | 89,429 | 60.8 | 85,064 | 57.8 | 3,470 | 81,594 | 4,365 | 4.9 | 57,667 |
1974 | 150,120 | 91,949 | 61.3 | 86,794 | 57.8 | 3,515 | 83,279 | 5,156 | 5.6 | 58,171 |
1975 | 153,153 | 93,775 | 61.2 | 85,846 | 56.1 | 3,408 | 82,438 | 7,929 | 8.5 | 59,377 |
1976 | 156,150 | 96,158 | 61.6 | 88,752 | 56.8 | 3,331 | 85,421 | 7,406 | 7.7 | 59,991 |
1977 | 159,033 | 99,009 | 62.3 | 92,017 | 57.9 | 3,283 | 88,734 | 6,991 | 7.1 | 60,025 |
1978 | 161,910 | 102,251 | 63.2 | 96,048 | 59.3 | 3,387 | 92,661 | 6,202 | 6.1 | 59,659 |
1979 | 164,863 | 104,962 | 63.7 | 98,824 | 59.9 | 3,347 | 95,477 | 6,137 | 5.8 | 59,900 |
1980 | 167,745 | 106,940 | 63.8 | 99,303 | 59.2 | 3,364 | 95,938 | 7,637 | 7.1 | 60,806 |
1981 | 170,130 | 108,670 | 63.9 | 100,397 | 59.0 | 3,368 | 97,030 | 8,273 | 7.6 | 61,460 |
1982 | 172,271 | 110,204 | 64.0 | 99,526 | 57.8 | 3,401 | 96,125 | 10,678 | 9.7 | 62,067 |
1983 | 174,215 | 111,550 | 64.0 | 100,834 | 57.9 | 3,383 | 97,450 | 10,717 | 9.6 | 62,665 |
1984 | 176,383 | 113,544 | 64.4 | 105,005 | 59.5 | 3,321 | 101,685 | 8,539 | 7.5 | 62,839 |
1985 | 178,206 | 115,461 | 64.8 | 107,150 | 60.1 | 3,179 | 103,971 | 8,312 | 7.2 | 62,744 |
1986 | 180,587 | 117,834 | 65.3 | 109,597 | 60.7 | 3,163 | 106,434 | 8,237 | 7.0 | 62,752 |
1987 | 182,753 | 119,865 | 65.6 | 112,440 | 61.5 | 3,208 | 109,232 | 7,425 | 6.2 | 62,888 |
1988 | 184,613 | 121,669 | 65.9 | 114,968 | 62.3 | 3,169 | 111,800 | 6,701 | 5.5 | 62,944 |
1989 | 186,393 | 123,869 | 66.5 | 117,342 | 63.0 | 3,199 | 114,142 | 6,528 | 5.3 | 62,523 |
1990 | 189,164 | 125,840 | 66.5 | 118,793 | 62.8 | 3,223 | 115,570 | 7,047 | 5.6 | 63,324 |
1991 | 190,925 | 126,346 | 66.2 | 117,718 | 61.7 | 3,269 | 114,449 | 8,628 | 6.8 | 64,578 |
1992 | 192,805 | 128,105 | 66.4 | 118,492 | 61.5 | 3,247 | 115,245 | 9,613 | 7.5 | 64,700 |
1993 | 194,838 | 129,200 | 66.3 | 120,259 | 61.7 | 3,115 | 117,144 | 8,940 | 6.9 | 65,638 |
1994 | 196,814 | 131,056 | 66.6 | 123,060 | 62.5 | 3,409 | 119,651 | 7,996 | 6.1 | 65,758 |
1995 | 198,584 | 132,304 | 66.6 | 124,900 | 62.9 | 3,440 | 121,460 | 7,404 | 5.6 | 66,280 |
1996 | 200,591 | 133,943 | 66.8 | 126,708 | 63.2 | 3,443 | 123,264 | 7,236 | 5.4 | 66,647 |
1997 | 203,133 | 136,297 | 67.1 | 129,558 | 63.8 | 3,399 | 126,159 | 6,739 | 4.9 | 66,837 |
1998 | 205,220 | 137,673 | 67.1 | 131,463 | 64.1 | 3,378 | 128,085 | 6,210 | 4.5 | 67,547 |
1999 | 207,753 | 139,368 | 67.1 | 133,488 | 64.3 | 3,281 | 130,207 | 5,880 | 4.2 | 68,385 |
2000 | 212,577 | 142,583 | 67.1 | 136,891 | 64.4 | 2,464 | 134,427 | 5,692 | 4.0 | 69,994 |
2001 | 215,092 | 143,734 | 66.8 | 136,933 | 63.7 | 2,299 | 134,635 | 6,801 | 4.7 | 71,359 |
2002 | 217,570 | 144,863 | 66.6 | 136,485 | 62.7 | 2,311 | 134,174 | 8,378 | 5.8 | 72,707 |
2003 | 221,168 | 146,510 | 66.2 | 137,736 | 62.3 | 2,275 | 135,461 | 8,774 | 6.0 | 74,658 |
2004 | 223,357 | 147,401 | 66.0 | 139,252 | 62.3 | 2,232 | 137,020 | 8,149 | 5.5 | 75,956 |
2005 | 226,082 | 149,320 | 66.0 | 141,730 | 62.7 | 2,197 | 139,532 | 7,591 | 5.1 | 76,762 |
2006 | 228,815 | 151,428 | 66.2 | 144,427 | 63.1 | 2,206 | 142,221 | 7,001 | 4.6 | 77,387 |
2007 | 231,867 | 153,124 | 66.0 | 146,047 | 63.0 | 2,095 | 143,952 | 7,078 | 4.6 | 78,743 |
2008 | 233,788 | 154,287 | 66.0 | 145,362 | 62.2 | 2,168 | 143,194 | 8,924 | 5.8 | 79,501 |
2009 | 235,801 | 154,142 | 65.4 | 139,877 | 59.3 | 2,103 | 137,775 | 14,265 | 9.3 | 81,659 |
2010 | 237,830 | 153,889 | 64.7 | 139,064 | 58.5 | 2,206 | 136,858 | 14,825 | 9.6 | 83,941 |
2011 | 239,618 | 153,617 | 64.1 | 139,869 | 58.4 | 2,254 | 137,615 | 13,747 | 8.9 | 86,001 |
2012 | 243,284 | 154,975 | 63.7 | 142,469 | 58.6 | 2,186 | 140,283 | 12,506 | 8.1 | 88,310 |
2013 | 245,679 | 155,389 | 63.2 | 143,929 | 58.6 | 2,130 | 141,799 | 11,460 | 7.4 | 90,290 |
NOTE: Revisions to population controls and other changes can affect the comparability of labor force levels over time. In recent years, for example, updated population controls have been introduced annually with the release of January data. Information about historical comparability is online at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#comp.
Most-Requested CPS Tables. Choose: Employment status of the population, 1940s to date
Civilian | labor | force | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Employed | Unemployed | |||||||||
Year | Civilian noninstitutional population |
Total | Percent of population |
Total | Percent of population |
Agri- culture |
Nonagri- cultural industries |
Number | Percent of labor force |
Not in labor force |
Persons 16 and over |
||||||||||
1947 | 101,827 | 59,350 | 58.3 | 57,038 | 56.0 | 7,890 | 49,148 | 2,311 | 3.9 | 42,477 |
. . . | ||||||||||
1980 | 167,745 | 106,940 | 63.8 | 99,303 | 59.2 | 3,364 | 95,938 | 7,637 | 7.1 | 60,806 |
1981 | 170,130 | 108,670 | 63.9 | 100,397 | 59.0 | 3,368 | 97,030 | 8,273 | 7.6 | 61,460 |
1982 | 172,271 | 110,204 | 64.0 | 99,526 | 57.8 | 3,401 | 96,125 | 10,678 | 9.7 | 62,067 |
1983 | 174,215 | 111,550 | 64.0 | 100,834 | 57.9 | 3,383 | 97,450 | 10,717 | 9.6 | 62,665 |
1984 | 176,383 | 113,544 | 64.4 | 105,005 | 59.5 | 3,321 | 101,685 | 8,539 | 7.5 | 62,839 |
1985 | 178,206 | 115,461 | 64.8 | 107,150 | 60.1 | 3,179 | 103,971 | 8,312 | 7.2 | 62,744 |
1986 | 180,587 | 117,834 | 65.3 | 109,597 | 60.7 | 3,163 | 106,434 | 8,237 | 7.0 | 62,752 |
1987 | 182,753 | 119,865 | 65.6 | 112,440 | 61.5 | 3,208 | 109,232 | 7,425 | 6.2 | 62,888 |
1988 | 184,613 | 121,669 | 65.9 | 114,968 | 62.3 | 3,169 | 111,800 | 6,701 | 5.5 | 62,944 |
1989 | 186,393 | 123,869 | 66.5 | 117,342 | 63.0 | 3,199 | 114,142 | 6,528 | 5.3 | 62,523 |
1990 | 189,164 | 125,840 | 66.5 | 118,793 | 62.8 | 3,223 | 115,570 | 7,047 | 5.6 | 63,324 |
1991 | 190,925 | 126,346 | 66.2 | 117,718 | 61.7 | 3,269 | 114,449 | 8,628 | 6.8 | 64,578 |
1992 | 192,805 | 128,105 | 66.4 | 118,492 | 61.5 | 3,247 | 115,245 | 9,613 | 7.5 | 64,700 |
1993 | 194,838 | 129,200 | 66.3 | 120,259 | 61.7 | 3,115 | 117,144 | 8,940 | 6.9 | 65,638 |
1994 | 196,814 | 131,056 | 66.6 | 123,060 | 62.5 | 3,409 | 119,651 | 7,996 | 6.1 | 65,758 |
1995 | 198,584 | 132,304 | 66.6 | 124,900 | 62.9 | 3,440 | 121,460 | 7,404 | 5.6 | 66,280 |
1996 | 200,591 | 133,943 | 66.8 | 126,708 | 63.2 | 3,443 | 123,264 | 7,236 | 5.4 | 66,647 |
1997 | 203,133 | 136,297 | 67.1 | 129,558 | 63.8 | 3,399 | 126,159 | 6,739 | 4.9 | 66,837 |
1998 | 205,220 | 137,673 | 67.1 | 131,463 | 64.1 | 3,378 | 128,085 | 6,210 | 4.5 | 67,547 |
1999 | 207,753 | 139,368 | 67.1 | 133,488 | 64.3 | 3,281 | 130,207 | 5,880 | 4.2 | 68,385 |
2000 | 212,577 | 142,583 | 67.1 | 136,891 | 64.4 | 2,464 | 134,427 | 5,692 | 4.0 | 69,994 |
2001 | 215,092 | 143,734 | 66.8 | 136,933 | 63.7 | 2,299 | 134,635 | 6,801 | 4.7 | 71,359 |
2002 | 217,570 | 144,863 | 66.6 | 136,485 | 62.7 | 2,311 | 134,174 | 8,378 | 5.8 | 72,707 |
2003 | 221,168 | 146,510 | 66.2 | 137,736 | 62.3 | 2,275 | 135,461 | 8,774 | 6.0 | 74,658 |
2004 | 223,357 | 147,401 | 66.0 | 139,252 | 62.3 | 2,232 | 137,020 | 8,149 | 5.5 | 75,956 |
2005 | 226,082 | 149,320 | 66.0 | 141,730 | 62.7 | 2,197 | 139,532 | 7,591 | 5.1 | 76,762 |
2006 | 228,815 | 151,428 | 66.2 | 144,427 | 63.1 | 2,206 | 142,221 | 7,001 | 4.6 | 77,387 |
2007 | 231,867 | 153,124 | 66.0 | 146,047 | 63.0 | 2,095 | 143,952 | 7,078 | 4.6 | 78,743 |
2008 | 233,788 | 154,287 | 66.0 | 145,362 | 62.2 | 2,168 | 143,194 | 8,924 | 5.8 | 79,501 |
2009 | 235,801 | 154,142 | 65.4 | 139,877 | 59.3 | 2,103 | 137,775 | 14,265 | 9.3 | 81,659 |
2010 | 237,830 | 153,889 | 64.7 | 139,064 | 58.5 | 2,206 | 136,858 | 14,825 | 9.6 | 83,941 |
2011 | 239,618 | 153,617 | 64.1 | 139,869 | 58.4 | 2,254 | 137,615 | 13,747 | 8.9 | 86,001 |
2012 | 243,284 | 154,975 | 63.7 | 142,469 | 58.6 | 2,186 | 140,283 | 12,506 | 8.1 | 88,310 |
2013 | 245,679 | 155,389 | 63.2 | 143,929 | 58.6 | 2,130 | 141,799 | 11,460 | 7.4 | 90,290 |
NOTE: Revisions to population controls and other changes can affect the comparability of labor force levels over time. In recent years, for example, updated population controls have been introduced annually with the release of January data. Information about historical comparability is online at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#comp.