General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,404 posts)

23. Those unemployment numbers don't indicate much for

Sat Mar 9, 2013, 10:44 AM

Mar 2013

people who are still unemployed or underemployed. However, as an indicator, it combines with other indicators to show some progress overall in our economic situation. Some progress. Not enough, but there is no magic solution that will suddenly fix everything that has been wrong with our economy. No magic solution at all.

So, you're right, in the sense that those numbers won't affect the lives of those already badly effected by the economy. Except, perhaps for those who have found new jobs. If they're not on DU, we don't hear about their new job. However, several DUers in the past couple of weeks have announced that they have found new employment after not being able to find work for a long time.

If someone is expecting a sudden turnaround, bringing full employment at great wages and salaries, they will be disappointed. That's not going to happen. Looking at indicators, however, is one way to gauge the overall economic situation, which does appear to be improving.

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The sad truth behind yesterday's unemployment numbers [View all] MadHound Mar 2013 OP

du rec. nt xchrom Mar 2013 #1

I see many are still yearning for the "good ole" Bush-era days. DCBob Mar 2013 #2

No, many are simply yearning for a single full time job MadHound Mar 2013 #3

No doubt many of these jobs are low paying and temporary. DCBob Mar 2013 #6

That's the BS that we are fed and expected to eat with a smile. The Main Street economy Egalitarian Thug Mar 2013 #12

Actually this problem has been brewing for decades. DCBob Mar 2013 #18

"it was a deliberate, bipartisan effort begun under reagan and accelerated to warp speed under Egalitarian Thug Mar 2013 #37

funny, I read this exact same thing word for word not along ago. DCBob Mar 2013 #41

so what? it's true, no surprise people repeat it. HiPointDem Mar 2013 #48

that statement is extremely misleading. DCBob Mar 2013 #50

it's not misleading at all. HiPointDem Mar 2013 #55

"clinton era deregulation made the housing bubble possible." DCBob Mar 2013 #56

happens to be true. HiPointDem Mar 2013 #58

BS. It played a role but was not the major factor. DCBob Mar 2013 #59

baloney. the intent was to make it easier for banksters to make money. everything follows HiPointDem Mar 2013 #60

Salami. Fact is the system was not being abused during the Clinton era.. DCBob Mar 2013 #61

Not yearning for the Bush Era days. bvar22 Mar 2013 #34

While it is not all great news quaker bill Mar 2013 #4

There is some stirring out there, MadHound Mar 2013 #5

This is not what I am seeing quaker bill Mar 2013 #7

If there is no demand, that money flowing out of bankster's hands will stop. fasttense Mar 2013 #8

Bingo.. sendero Mar 2013 #14

This is true quaker bill Mar 2013 #24

Well I guess it depends on what side you are seeing. fasttense Mar 2013 #62

unemployment is still high here too quaker bill Mar 2013 #64

I'm seeing that too, just in the city where I live. BlancheSplanchnik Mar 2013 #9

I think both you and MadHound have made good points... ChisolmTrailDem Mar 2013 #43

Time also matters quaker bill Mar 2013 #47

I agree that wages are falling, especially in relation to inflation davidpdx Mar 2013 #16

Every crash, every large-scale job loss results in return of mostly lower paying jobs later ProfessionalLeftist Mar 2013 #10

What I love abelenkpe Mar 2013 #13

Economy seemed to be doing well abelenkpe Mar 2013 #11

Old fashioned capitalism is dead. watoos Mar 2013 #15

The Failure Of Capitalism cantbeserious Mar 2013 #17

Old fashioned Capitalism ? Purplehazed Mar 2013 #27

Some of that depends on how you look at "previous trends" bhikkhu Mar 2013 #19

Harecore truthiness. 99Forever Mar 2013 #20

Recommend jsr Mar 2013 #21

"Ra Ra, unemployment dropped two tenths of one percent" ProSense Mar 2013 #22

When I read that "massaged the unemployment numbers" line I thought I was reading a ... JoePhilly Mar 2013 #26

You Better Believe It! Ikonoklast Mar 2013 #28

Better Believe that I love nostalgic references!! JoePhilly Mar 2013 #29

Yep. You Better Believe It. cliffordu Mar 2013 #40

They seem to hate good news, eh?... SidDithers Mar 2013 #46

That's what rival parties do DevonRex Mar 2013 #54

It amazes me how people all screamed that the bushes fasttense Mar 2013 #63

The calculation for UE has not changed In a very JoePhilly Mar 2013 #65

Those unemployment numbers don't indicate much for MineralMan Mar 2013 #23

Dean Baker seems to agree: KoKo Mar 2013 #33

Doesn't this ProSense Mar 2013 #35

There was an article yesterday which covered these numbers and said "...the economy surges!" Poll_Blind Mar 2013 #25

Another article said, Purplehazed Mar 2013 #31

wsws and truth never belong in the same sentence Godhumor Mar 2013 #30

Really? MadHound Mar 2013 #38

" Our Current Economic Mess, Explained With Headlines" KoKo Mar 2013 #32

Reagan's big pre-84 trick was to include the military for the first time - 100% employed group. talkingmime Mar 2013 #36

I got a job after 4 years DotGone Mar 2013 #39

congrats on getting a job Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #66

Does NOT, of course, count UNDER-employment. Bake Mar 2013 #42

Bernie Sanders says the reality is 14%. Cleita Mar 2013 #44

LOL... SidDithers Mar 2013 #45

Better believe it! MannyGoldstein Mar 2013 #53

masks a ton of people who've dropped out of the official economy. labor force participation rate: HiPointDem Mar 2013 #49

WSWS left Republicans out of the article entirely. Named only Obama. DevonRex Mar 2013 #51

Do they plug in the numbers for those that are getting a second or third job in this report? Knightraven Mar 2013 #52

Oh noes! Good news! treestar Mar 2013 #57

lol Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #67