Do job report numbers really matter to the average voter?

[Baitball Blogger]

I'm just wondering, to someone who has to hold down two or three jobs to make ends meet, is this really a factor since it would be far better to have one good paying job?

[stopbush]

1. I've been out of work since August.

Plenty of interviews, but at 64 I’m up against the ageism that is rampant in the job market.

[Wounded Bear]

3. I know what you mean...

I ended up taking early retirement. Costs me several hundred a month in SS, but I couldn't find any work. I was at a temp agency at the time and they kept sending me to warehouses and factories where the work was more suited to someone half my age.

Best of luck to you.

[machoneman]

4. I swear they are lying about the real job numbers.

At this rate, by October 2020 unemployment per Trump's numbers will be zero if not in negative numbers! Go figure.......

[Baitball Blogger]

7. I think you're right. I think they have figured out a loophole that is allowing them

to fudge the numbers.

[Wellstone ruled]

13. In the month of Febuary 2017

bragged about "juicing" every economic data point in a interview with a Business Reporter.

BTW,did they report the lost jobs number anywhere today? Last month the lost number was about three quarters of the gain numbers. Someone found that into in the foot notes.

[unblock]

5. in the white collar world, virtually everyone in know above a certain age,

if they are in need of a job, either they become salespeople (commission) or consultants (self-employed).

that seems to be the only kind of work you can get over a certain age.

[unblock]

2. yes and no.

people who are actively looking in the job market are more sensitive to their own particular situation, which may differ from the national numbers due to industry, region, or their own specific situation. if they find the market is tough for them, they won't care that the national numbers appear to be good.

but most people aren't actively looking, and they are comforted by a sense that there's a strong job market for them in case something happens in their current situation. these are the people who can be swayed by the numbers because they don't look to the details behind them.

[FBaggins]

6. Indirectly, sure

Jobs numbers speak to the strength of the economy as a whole.

Sure, we could say “If I’m personally struggling how much would I care/believe that things are generally good” - but we don’t say that in the reverse situation.

[ooky]

8. It didn't seem to for Republicans, for all the years Obama was in office and steadily

bringing down the unemployment rate. Then the day Trump became President they were suddenly all over it.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. The numbers matter if you're looking for someone to hire.

For most of us, there are only two numbers:
1 - I have a job
0 - I don't have a job

The rest of the numbers are just statistics.

[stillcool]

10. perception is reality

[NewJeffCT]

11. Did it matter when there were 20,000 jobs created

in February?

[Baitball Blogger]

15. Very odd, isn't it?

[blueinredohio]

12. It would be nice to know how many are good jobs and how many are minimum wage.

[qazplm135]

14. yes

because the ONLY thing keeping Trump in the low-to-mid 40s are the various positive economic reports about jobs, unemployment, etc.