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Labor Day 2015: 93.7 million American adults aren’t working & aren’t trying
Sharylattkisson.com ^ | September 7, 2015 | Sharyl Attkisson

Posted on 09/08/2015 5:53:09 AM PDT by Hojczyk

According to the U.S. government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor participation rate has hit 62.6 percent. That’s the worst in 38 years, since the dog days of 1977. The “labor participation rate” measures the percentage of people age 16 or older who are working or actively looking for a job.

That’s because of a statistical decision the government made in 1994. It decided that people who aren’t working and haven’t been interested in looking for a job for a long time shouldn’t be counted as unemployed. They are simply removed from the calculation, as if they don’t exist.

At the time, the government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics called it “a relatively minor change.” But the result has been that, ever since 1994, the unemployment figure under both Democrat and Republican administrations looks better than it otherwise would. Sometimes, far better.

Using this statistical method, the Bureau of Labor Statistics removed 640,000 Americans from unemployment statistics in June. They joined almost 94 million others who aren’t working and aren’t looking. Critics argue the statistic is accurate but misleading because the Bureau of Labor Statistics includes many people who are too old or too young to work.

(Excerpt) Read more at sharylattkisson.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
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1 posted on 09/08/2015 5:53:09 AM PDT by Hojczyk
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To: Hojczyk

It would be nice if there was one place you could go to and see how many people are on SNAP, TANF, WICs, SSDI, SSI, Section 8 and the like and compare to the 96 million....


2 posted on 09/08/2015 5:56:48 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Hojczyk

I’m trying! Been applying, even to jobs far beneath my education. Just ain’t getting hired. Really weird.


3 posted on 09/08/2015 5:59:21 AM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

Exactly the same here, and not on any ‘relief’ either.

Until these Obama years, the longest it took me to get a new job was three weeks.


4 posted on 09/08/2015 6:02:35 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (The mill grinds exceedingly fine.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

Once your out of work a couple of years, Hiring Managers treat you like you have Ebola. it’s an impossible situation.


5 posted on 09/08/2015 6:04:30 AM PDT by ground_fog
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To: Hojczyk

They’ll start trying if they aren’t getting a guaranteed check every month.


6 posted on 09/08/2015 6:09:48 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

Try to stay positive.


7 posted on 09/08/2015 6:10:34 AM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: glorgau
They’ll start trying if they aren’t getting a guaranteed check every month.

It isn't quite that simple, especially if you have dependents to support.

When I got laid off we had savings and very few bills because everything we own is paid for in full. I was willing to do anything to get off the dole and find a full time job with benefits. Even though I had a background in machine maintenance I applied for jobs as a janitor in a hospital, a security guard, Costco, Lowes, Home Depot, basically anything that I thought would give me a chance. I finally took a minimum wage job a Krogers but it didn't take long to realize that I didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting offered a full time position. When they not only cut my hours from 28 to 20 but wanted me to travel to another store I turned in my stuff and left. The state cut me off from collecting unemployment because, according to them, I had a good job and quit so I was no longer eligible to collect. My unemployment check was actually twice as much as the check I was getting from Kroger so it would have been easily worth it for me to sit at home. I actually tried to make a better life for myself and my wife than living off the dole and it cost me everything. I filed an appeal and spent my entire allotted time slamming the state for encouraging dependency and punishing effort but they could care less.

In my case losing an unemployment check was an inconvenience. If I had needed that check to keep afloat it would have been a disaster. If I had it to do over again or if anyone asked me for advice I would sit at home, collect the checks and not leave until I had a firm offer of full time employment. Thank the government for that.

8 posted on 09/08/2015 6:56:47 AM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: Hojczyk

“& aren’t trying” is a liberal propaganda lie in a vain attempt to claim the unemployment rate is only 5.3% instead of the high rate that is actually is.


9 posted on 09/08/2015 7:02:13 AM PDT by CodeToad (If it weren't for physics and law enforcement I'd be unstoppable!)
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To: glorgau

10 posted on 09/08/2015 10:08:46 AM PDT by Neidermeyer ("Our courts should not be collection agencies for crooks." — John Waihee, Governor of Hawaii, 1986-)
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