President Trump's budget director claims the Obama administration was "manipulating" jobs data.

moneycnn.com ^ | 3/12/17 | Jill Disis

[MortMan]

Honestly, I have never personally considered the “created” versus “filled” was the real issue. It is the fact that the labor participation rate (where people no longer receive unemployment and are not actively seeking work get dropped from the pool of “unemployed”). People were out of work, used up the unemployment, then went on welfare or some other “free money” thing, and suddenly unemployment went down.

I have never dabbled in the statistics in this field. But I know that anything that the Obama administration said was true was likely a lie concocted to make them look better. Sadly, I think any government announcement should be greeted with significant skepticism - to the point of being nearly antagonistic. Perhaps the Trump administration will root out much of the corruption in the bureaucracy, but until then I choose to “trust, but verify”.

[Vinnie]

Rather than the U3 rate being the official number for the unemployment, I think that the official rate should be the U6. That’s the rate that includes all of the factors that calculate the ‘true’ unemployment rate.

You can bet the MSM will shortly 'discover' the error and start using the U6 to make a terrible comparison between Obama's wonderful economy and the Trump disaster.
IIRC the real unemployment is around 9.8%, and you can be sure they are going to try to hang that on Pres. Trump.

They are going to do the same with the CPI.
Right now the index used excludes fuel and food.
There is another index that includes them.

[Mr. K]

Trump should have them release REVISED (real) numbers from Obama’s term

And compare their stated lies with the real numbers

[stylin19a]

Don’t mind me. I go on this rant every now and again.
You and I know the government can’t create private jobs.
It can remove obstacles and set the table for business to create jobs.

I have been asking this question for years.
I believe “jobs created” is a useless phrase that allows an administration to toot it’s own horn.
OBama\Biden touted “jobs created” ( though in their beginning, it was “jobs created or saved” )

There are currently approx. 5.6 million open positions in the US. And it keeps growing each month.

I’m guessing Pres. Trump will also tout “jobs created”.

I’ll shut up about this now.

[Lionheartusa1]

I’M SHOCKED !!!!!!!!

He lied about everything !!!

[SgtHooper]

LOL!

[butlerweave]

Obama administration was “manipulating” jobs data like a Laser ?

[FreeAtlanta]

Trump needs to have the numbers reworked back to 2000 using the old formula. Tweet the results.

The real monkey business happened 2011-2012 leading up to second election.

[FreeAtlanta]

Agree 100%!

[stylin19a]

I got a reply back from BLM to my question, but not an answer. They basically go along with what you are saying.

Question:

I have read the methodology of the “Establishment survey” and I do not understand how to differentiate between positions filled vs. jobs created. Is there a difference? If so, how would I know that?

Response:

Good evening xxxx,

Thank you for contacting the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With regards to “Jobs Created Statistics”, our establishment survey (Current Employment Statistics) asks employers to tell us how many employees were on their payroll within the “reference week” – the calendar week that includes the 12th day of the month.

Each month these numbers are updated and we are able to calculate the change in total nonfarm payroll jobs from one month to the next.

When the number is positive, the overall number of nonfarm payroll jobs in the economy increased and when the number is negative, there was a reduction in the number of nonfarm payroll jobs in the economy.

If you have any additional questions about the Current Employment Statistics methodology, you may speak with an analyst in that office by calling 202-691-6555 or e-mail cesinfo@bls.gov.