[KevinDavis]

I wonder how many people is off the payroll now..

[SueRae]

I think I heard > 12 million...but I don’t trust CNBC any more than I trust government.

[jiggyboy]

That and the directly related "participation rate" are the most important and only real continuing statistics:

"People Not In Labor Force Soar By 522,000, Labor Force Participation Rate Lowest Since 1981"

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/people-not-labor-force-soar-522000-labor-force-participation-rate-lowest-1981

The actual unemployment number is statistical fakery and the weekly jobs number is statistical noise (the error per BIS is roughly +/- 100,000).

This graph also shows that the official definition of a recession is also an arbitrary one unconnected to reality. See how "the recession ended" there in late 2009? That single dip was enough for them to make that decision, and it's just a blip on one of the most noiseless economic graphs in existence.

[God luvs America]

they said the workforce participation, (i believe it represents the number of people in the workforce looking for work- someone please correct me if i’m wrong), is the lowest since 1981- there was a collective gasp of horror from the CNBC crew when that was mentioned...

[khelus]

People Not In Labor Force Soar By 522,000, Labor Force Participation Rate Lowest Since 1981

[servantboy777]

I read the release from the feds and all in the same sentence, they meekly praised a drop in the unemployment figure from 8.2% to 8.1% then acknowledged it was due to folks giving up looking for employment.

Proof positive Uncle Sugar is sugar coating.