pinqy
Gold Member
Let's go through the real numbers (not seasonally adjusted numbers are used for consistancy, all numbers for Feb 2010 unless otherwise stated):
Population estimate for 2009 was 307,006,550
Adult Civilian Non-Institutional Population: 236,998,000
This is people 16 years old +, not in prison, the military, or in long term mental/health care. In other words, those who have no legal restrictions to entering or leaving a job or changing jobs. Note there is no upper limit because there is no upper limit to working.
Labor Force: 153,194,000 (64.6% of the adult civilian population)
Those available to work...this includes all those who are working or trying to find work (Employed + Unemployed).
Employed: 137,203,000
Worked for at least one hour for pay or 15+ hours in a family business/farm. It really has to be this broad or a lot of error creeps in. I have had jobs while a student where I only worked 3-4 hours a week, but certainly considered myself employed. But this definition can cause the numbers to be misleading...I was in talks with Mexican government representatives on this issue, and since there is no unemployment insurance in most of the country, people are forced to take any work ad hoc. This happens enough there (as opposed to the US) so that the number doesn't reflect the true situation. But there's no real way to correct for it.
Unemployed: 15,991,000
Did not work, and actively looked for work in the previous 4 weeks. The most objective way to determine if someone wants a job is to see what they’re doing about it. If you’re not looking, you’re not available for work and not part of the labor supply.
Not in the Labor Force: 83,804,000
Didn’t work and not looking for work.
Population estimate for 2009 was 307,006,550
Adult Civilian Non-Institutional Population: 236,998,000
This is people 16 years old +, not in prison, the military, or in long term mental/health care. In other words, those who have no legal restrictions to entering or leaving a job or changing jobs. Note there is no upper limit because there is no upper limit to working.
Labor Force: 153,194,000 (64.6% of the adult civilian population)
Those available to work...this includes all those who are working or trying to find work (Employed + Unemployed).
Employed: 137,203,000
Worked for at least one hour for pay or 15+ hours in a family business/farm. It really has to be this broad or a lot of error creeps in. I have had jobs while a student where I only worked 3-4 hours a week, but certainly considered myself employed. But this definition can cause the numbers to be misleading...I was in talks with Mexican government representatives on this issue, and since there is no unemployment insurance in most of the country, people are forced to take any work ad hoc. This happens enough there (as opposed to the US) so that the number doesn't reflect the true situation. But there's no real way to correct for it.
Employed Full Time (>=35 hrs/week): 109,289,000
Employed Part Time (< 35 hrs/week): 27,994,000
Employed Part Time (< 35 hrs/week): 27,994,000
Part Time for Economic Reasons: 8,960,000
By choice, family circumstances, school, etc.
Involuntary Part Time due to slack work or business conditions: 6,708,000
Involuntary Part Time due to inability to find full time work: 2,252,000
Part Time for Non-Economic Reasons: 18,718,000Involuntary Part Time due to inability to find full time work: 2,252,000
By choice, family circumstances, school, etc.
Multiple Job-holders: 7,161,000Primary job full time, secondary job part time: 3,735,000
Primary and secondary jobs both part time: 1,842,000
Primary and secondary jobs both full time: 290,000
Hours vary on primary or secondary job: 1,271,000
Primary and secondary jobs both full time: 290,000
Hours vary on primary or secondary job: 1,271,000
Unemployed: 15,991,000
Did not work, and actively looked for work in the previous 4 weeks. The most objective way to determine if someone wants a job is to see what they’re doing about it. If you’re not looking, you’re not available for work and not part of the labor supply.
Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs: 10,664,000
Reentrants: 3,449,000
New Entrants: 1,005,000
So the Unemployment Rate is Unemployed/(Employed + Unemployed) which gives us 10.4 for the not seasonally adjusted figures. That's down from January's 10.6. There are trends of spikes and valleys at certain times of year that distort the actual trend (like tidal flows when measuring ocean levels) that are smoothed out by seasonal adjustment. Sometimes the adjusted numbers are higher, sometimes lower...regardless, it puts it into a smoother curve.Temporary layoff: 2,100,000
Permanent layoff: 8,564
Job leavers: 874,000Permanent layoff: 8,564
Reentrants: 3,449,000
New Entrants: 1,005,000
Not in the Labor Force: 83,804,000
Didn’t work and not looking for work.
Want a job: 6,086,000
Marginally Attached: 2,527,000
Looked for work in the previous 12 months, wants to and available to work, not currently looking.
Discouraged: 1,204,000
Looked for work in the previous 12 months, wants to and available to work, not currently looking because they don’t believe they’ll find work.
Looked for work in the previous 12 months, wants to and available to work, not currently looking because they don’t believe they’ll find work.
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