help me with some job numbers math please

[ps1074]

Okay, the economy needs 150,000 jobs a month just to keep with the workforce. With 150K jobs a month you should keep the unemployment steady, right? This is my understanding.

There are still 900.000 less jobs now than there were back when Bush took office. This means 42 months since Bush took office.

So, we need to add 150,000 jobs each of these 42 month in order to keep the unemployment numbers same, right? It makes 6,300,000 jobs and then the 900,000 already less for the Bush's term... We have 7,200,000 jobs.

So, we are 7,200,000 jobs short since Bush took office. This is just to keep the unemployment numbers where it was in January 2001.

Is my math right?

If yes, why the fuck are unemployment numbers falling? This gives the right wing ammo to talk about how great the economy is. Unemployment down = economy great.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. There are several...

"unemployment numbers." You can look at the total number of people collecting unemployment, or you can look at the various household and employer surveys.

Usually, they like to quote the number of people collecting unemployment insurance, since that number tends to fall more than others. Seasonally adjusting new claims also gives them some wiggle room.

If you're out of work more than 6 months, you don't count any more! Besides, there are a lot of contract employees, self-employed, and others that never collect, and they don't get counted at all.