N.C. unemployment decreases, but many people gave up

The News Observer [Raliegh, NC] ^ | Mar. 6, 2004 | Amy Martinez

[SteveH]

N.C. unemployment decreases, but many people gave up

By AMY MARTINEZ, Staff Writer

North Carolina's unemployment rate fell in January to its lowest level since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but hiring virtually stopped and frustrated job seekers gave up their searches.

The seasonally adjusted rate decreased four-tenths of a percentage point during the month, to 5.8 percent, as 47,000 people dropped out of the labor force, the N.C. Employment Security Commission said Friday.

A declining labor force suggests the rate dropped not because of a pickup in hiring, but because job seekers went back to school or postponed their searches until the job market improves.

...

[Wumpus Hunter]

What kind of a moron assumes people "give up" on looking for work?

They don't stop looking until they either find a job or come into money.

[Eala]

Pinging Willie Green

[GeronL]

People who "give up" are still counted.

[Johnny_Cipher]

North Carolina's unemployment rate fell in January to its lowest level since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but hiring virtually stopped and frustrated job seekers gave up their searches.

These job seekers must have also "gave up" eating, paying rent, driving a car, and drinking water too.

[ThreePuttinDude]

A declining labor force suggests the rate dropped not because of a pickup in hiring, but because job seekers went back to school or postponed their searches until the job market improves."

Or maybe, just maybe they went to were the jobs can be found, or started their own business.

Just a thought, they have to feed themselves and pay their bills.
Did the welfare lines get any longer??

[NeonKnight]

Whether the author of this article is right or wrong, it would not have been written like this if a Dem had been in office. It probably wouldn't even have been written, at least not by this author. It seems as though everything has become politicized. It seems like you have to read between the lines of everything that is written.

[concerned about politics]

frustrated job seekers gave up their searches.

Signing up for a taxpayer funded freebies is easier, aye? Sounds like these people aren't really that eager to work.
"Ohhh. Looking for work is just tooooo harrrrrd!"

[jackbill]

frustrated job seekers gave up their searches.

I would like to see someone explain this. How do you give up a search for a job - if you really need a job to survive? Do these people move into a cave and eat toadstools?

Or are they people who really don't need a job but would take one if something that they liked came along? Like a wife whose husband is making enough to support the family but she wouldn't mind working if the "right" job came along? Who are these people?

[jpsb]

"Who are these people"

There are the people whose jobs are gone and not comming back. Victoms of free trade and out sourcing. The people most here on FR don't give a damn about. But they vote, and I'll bet those that didn't will in then next election.

[Drango]

People who "give up" are still counted.

I don't believe this is true. If you don't have a job and if you don't assert you are in the job market, you are not counted as unemployed. Translation...People who "give up", are NOT counted as unemployed and are NOT reflected in the unemployed percentage.

[WhatWouldReaganDo]

frustrated job seekers gave up their searches

I believe that these are people, such as myself, who are no longer counted as unemployed because they've exhausted their benefits.

[CzarNicky]

I have always said and will continue to say that those who give up looking for work don't really need to get a job.

[NeonKnight]

Or maybe, just maybe they went to were the jobs can be found, or started their own business.

Or figured out how to set up a server to take credit card numbers. There are more people making a living selling things over the internet than ever before. There are no sales taxes, and it would be difficult for the IRS to calculate income. There are many ways of making money without having a "job".

[VRWC_minion]

Good, drop the dead wood.

[billbears]

Well that's just not possible...Why where are all the biotech jobs that were going to be replacing the textile ones? How about the ones that Elizabeth Dole helped to chase out of NC with her 'no-tax' tax on the tobacco industry? As if the economy wasn't enough we have our representation (R) in the Senate breaking campaign promises and affecting our economy

[Joe Hadenuf]

N.C. unemployment decreases, but many people gave up

The hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens pouring into North Carolina will take the place of lazy, no good American's that refuse to work hard for less.

[VRWC_minion]

who are no longer counted as unemployed because they've exhausted their benefits.

The unemployment rate is not based on the number of folks collecting. That error is not part of the calculation. You are misled.

[GeronL]

Besides government doesn't know how to count unemployment.