[ClearCase_guy]

Isn't this rather obvious?

Why is it that we don't have double-digit unemployment?? The unemployment rate was 9.1%, the numbers are bad every month, and now the rate is 9%.

It's because people lose their benefits, drop off the chart, are no longer counted -- that's why the unemployment rate goes down.

As the bad times stretch out longer and longer, the statistics will look better and better.

But some people see.

[Scotsman will be Free]

Exactly so. Meanwhile, crops are reportedly rotting on the ground in Alabama because there is no one to pick them.

[hinckley buzzard]

No longer true actually. If you are still looking for work you are still counted, whether you receive unemployment or not. If you say the hell with it and stop looking, then you no longer get counted.

[tbw2]

Giving up work though you want to also stops the “unemployed” count. I know several women who now say they are stay at home mothers of school aged children because it is less painful than saying they’ve been looking for management, PR or communications work for 2+ years.

[Secret Agent Man]

Also remember that those no longer looking for work aren’t counted either.

They (fedgov) made some changes to the numbers this year and how they calculate unemployment. In Obama’s favor, and it’s still at 9%. I think the real rate is 16-19% range.

[blam]

"Why is it that we don't have double-digit unemployment?? The unemployment rate was 9.1%, the numbers are bad every month, and now the rate is 9%. "

If the unemployment rate is calculated the way it was when Clinton was president, it's above 22.0%. That's in league with the Great Depression rates.

Don't believe anything the government says.