[jsfg_cinti] Re: Unemployment rate lowest in nearly 5-1/2 years

Dear JSFG folk,

I recently posted to this list an excerpt from an
article that reported the fact that this month's
unemployment rate had reached a significantly low
level.  That posting has engendered the following
response:

--- Srdaviscareer@xxxxxx wrote:
> That's because they no longer count those
> of us who are no longer collecting the
> six-months of unemployment benefits.

That's just not true.  

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is the government
agency responsible for collecting data on
unemployment.  If you go online you can find the
details of the data on unemployment in the "Employment
Situation" report at URL:

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm

Part of that report is a discussion of how the data is
collected and definitions of the various terms used in
the report.  That discussion and those definitions may
be found online at URL:

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.tn.htm

Here is the definition of an unemployed person from
the BLS:

"People are classified as unemployed if they meet all
of the following criteria:  They had no employment
during the  reference week; they were available for
work at that time; and they made specific efforts to
find employment sometime during the 4-week period
ending with the reference week.  Persons laid off from
a job and expecting recall need not be looking for
work to be counted as unemployed. The unemployment
data derived from the household survey in no way
depend upon the eligibility for or receipt of
unemployment insurance benefits."

You will note that the definition of an unemployed
person specifically states that if you are looking for
work anytime in the 4 week period preceding the survey
then you are counted as unemployed regardless of
whether you are receiving unemployment insurance
benefits or not.  

And it doesn't matter why you are not receiving the
benefit, you are still counted as unemployed if you
are looking for work.  

Specifically, if you have already received the maximum
unemployment insurance benefit permitted by law (i.e.,
your benefit has "expired" or "run out") you are still
counted as unemployed as long as you are seeking
employment.  

I hope this information clarifies the facts of the
matter.  

The unemployment rate is way down.  Think positive!

Regards,
Lance Feldman




 






 
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