The question is too broad. Sometimes they are sometimes they are not, there is not a definitave answer here.
Americans aren't more competitive on any level that would cause the unemployment rate to decline once a cyclical correction is over?
American's can compete on a skills basis, not a wage basis.
Do you think the stock market and economy should go up endlessly?
The stock market will go up gradually over time up until there is a massive labor shortage from the boomer retirement. Alternatively the credit bubble will pop because of unemployment and interest rates will skyrocket sending the market back down.
Do you realize that 93.9% of the American work force is employed?
Any analyst (finance/business/otherwise) worth his salt knows that relying on a metric like "those seeking work" is foolish. The number is subject to political tampering and will say whatever the current administration wants it to say. Use the SS database and IRS database and you'll have a real number that reflects reality.
This is why discussing economics with people in your crowd is futile. You simply don't understand what economic efficiency even means.