[Major Matt Mason]

The only real improvement in the labor market since the recession ended is with workers who have decided to sit out the slow economy and not look for a new job. That’s helped keep the unemployment rate low, Shierholz said.

Why would this keep the unemployment rate low? How many people quit a job before they have another one? Talk about grasping at straws.

[arrogantsob]

It keeps the UE rate lower because the person is considered to be out of the labor force. UE rate = unemployed/labor force.

[arrogantsob]

Studies show that the “quit rate” (those who voluntarily leave the employed varies inversely with the unemployment rate. i.e. when it is high the probability of finding a higher paying job is lower than it is when the UE rate is low.

[RipSawyer]

Just wait until they tell us the starvation rate has “unexpectedly” dropped because millions of people have stopped looking for food.