Recent employment numbers (Nov, 2017) would seem to suggest that the job market in the U.S. has never been better. According to proponents of the report, the 4.1 total unemployment percentage means that America’s economy is booming and that it’s a worker’s market out there. If you watch any of the major news shows, they’ll mostly tell you that too. Here’s a quick clip of such a show.
Alright America. We Did It !! Shut it all down. Can’t get better than this! Right?…. Right? I mean, watching that clip, why not be exuberant and victorious? Well, because that clip is masking the truth and is wildly misleading. And why is that clip misleading? After all, we are close to full employment, meaning anyone who wants a job can find one. And that’s great, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The truth is, there are a lot of ways to fool the American people, and a jobs report like November’s is one such way.
So, how are these impressive employment numbers fooling people? Well, what’s missing is any context behind those numbers. What those numbers really mean, and why? Here’s some important information regarding the November jobs report. The following tells you how the report counts unemployed and employed people.
“Any individual who has been actively looking for a job within the past four weeks and is capable of taking on a job is considered unemployed. In contrast, you’re considered employed if you have a job. Even if you’re only working temporarily or you’re not working because you’re on maternity leave or you’re sick, you’re still counted as one of the employed people in the labor force.”
So people working temporarily, as well as part-time workers, are both included. Also, people who have given up looking for work are not included as unemployed. That number is around 1.5 million. Another problem with this report is that it doesn’t delve into underemployment as part of the employment numbers. Underemployed people who work part time, but want to work full time are considered fully employed. The number of underemployed people in the U.S. is estimated to be 22 million. Again, these are people who are currently part of that rosy employment number. Do you think these workers would think everything is great in the job market?
Here are more stark signs that the employment numbers grossly exaggerate the current job market’s success. If the job market is so great, why haven’t worker’s wages gone up? (only 0.2% per year, which is negligible growth). Are the jobs being created mostly well paying or at least have stability?(No, they are mostly low paying service sector jobs where hours and even employment can wildly fluctuate. This was seen in the CNN clip)
One of the unfortunate side effects of a good jobs report is that people who can’t find good work may think it’s their fault, and people at large, who only see the “great” employment numbers, but not the meaning behind them, may think people without jobs are lazy or not looking hard enough.
The truth is, most people won’t take a job if they can’t survive on the pay and hours. That makes sense. Why would anyone work just to pay half their bills? Earnest job searchers are disheartened when they discover the truth we’ve known here at The Underemployed Life for years: landing a stable job, with a living wage, has never been harder.
This is right on. I know far more people getting laid off and cannot find ANYTHING but part time work and horrible wages than are actually getting hired. Myself included. I have not has a raise in 13 years and even better, the jobs I apply for pay LESS than they did 10 years ago. Bundled with the fact that IT jobs are basically going to cheap foreigners (thank you, Fed Gov) and overseas, there is little hope I will ever be fully employed again.
Only a revolution, national natural catastraphy, or world war are the only things that will change this (in reality) sh1tty job market. The problem is overpopulation. Too many people and not enough jobs. Same problem in 3rd world countries like India, is now happening in the US. Having open borders isn’t helping at all and contributing to the problem. A population culling is whats needed.
Good article were still being lied to by the power hungry owners of the media and their henchmen. They put metal in our water supply and chemtrails of metal in the air to keep people sick and dull. People they (1% powerhouse nazi creators ) are real and they are scared shittless of us all coming together. Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself are you really happy everyday all day, heck no! So buy your guns, tanks, whatever because they can be bought and our own government loves to sell them to third world countries and pretend like they are evil terrorists when they accumulate these weapons but its all an illusion people. One thing trump has correct is everything the news now says is a complete lie to protect and serve the 1% power hungry pedophile rapping your kids nazi motherfoes. Wake up people you can grow enough food in your own front yard to feed your home and your neighbors, why the hell don’t people do this, because they want us to consume at their gmo grocery markets and never be independent! I thought we were the nation of independence? Its all a lie they want to keep tricking your sorry asses until your all molded in their ugly-ass, evil, dinosaur palmed hands…. England owns are asses and we have once again forgot why are great forefathers came blasting onto these American lands, to say f you ya nasty ass elizabeth queen of scum die with your evil wrinkled cunt.