Don’t root for public-sector job losses

[ProSense]

7. Actually

Well, the year has just begun, so I assume you were referring to 2011. However, the pace of job creation is not a strong as it needs to be to keep pace with the growth of the working age population, and to reabsorb those who have been laid off.

Economists estimate the US economy must generate at least 150,000 new jobs a month just to keep pace with the normal growth of the working-age population, and most post-World War II recoveries from recessions saw new jobs being created at a monthly rate of 200,000 to 300,000 or more.

...economists estimate that anywhere from 90,000 (Baker) to 100,000 (Krugman) jobs are needed to keep pace with population growth. The economy averaged about 137,000. It's by no means adequate to reverse the jobs deficit in a reasonable amount of time, but it certainly isn't the reason for public sector layoffs.