[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

from the article:
"The unemployment rate is derived from the department's monthly survey of households in which individuals are asked to declare their employment status, while the jobs figures are derived from a survey of businesses."

So anyone w/o a phone is not counted, like the homeless or someone who can't pay the phone company.

Yesterday, there was a post about job shrinkage, which apparently is "derived from a survey of businesses". The unemployment rate did not "add up" with the continuing job shrinkage. Even if these numbers are obtained from surveys (like the Family Feud show), I would say that the business survey is more accurate than the household survey.
Wall Street seemed to understand the discrepancy, and there was an article yesterday about their negative reaction to the monthly job news.

[Dave S]

So anyone w/o a phone is not counted, like the homeless or someone who can't pay the phone company.

Actually most of the interviews are conducted in person at the individuals home. So I dont think not paying your phone bill would hurt as much as being homeless.

Yesterday, there was a post about job shrinkage, which apparently is "derived from a survey of businesses". The unemployment rate did not "add up" with the continuing job shrinkage. Even if these numbers are obtained from surveys (like the Family Feud show), I would say that the business survey is more accurate than the household survey.

Survey of business is probably only as good as the governments sample. If they were including a large number of buggy whip companies back at the turn of the century, things would have looked pretty bad, especially if they werent also including some of them new fangled horseless carriages. The sample is not going to include small business. It does not purport to. So if what they say about all the new job creation coming from small business, the Survey of Business probably is missing the boat.