Monday, September 10, 2012


The most recent unemployment numbers were released on:

Friday, September 7th, 2012

How were the latest unemployment numbers? The rate of unemployment went down to 8.1%. The number of new jobs created was at 90,000. That was lower than some had expected. Some had hoped the numbers would be over 100,000 new jobs.

What part of the economy is is doing best with hiring new people? The p
rivate sector continues to improve. Public sector jobs (primarily police, teachers, firemen) continue to decline but are overcome by the private sector job increases.

Where is the United States economically? We are in a recovery. The recession that ended in 2009 started in December of 2007. The most recent recession was officially over in June of 2009. It has been a very slow recovery.

How does this recovery compare with the last recovery? The last recovery started in July of 1981 and ended in November of 1982. The current recovery has employed over three times the number of unemployed compared to the same period of time after the last recession.

How bad was the recession that ended in 2009? The unemployment number neared 11%. When President Obama took office, the United States was losing upwards of 800,000 jobs per month.

Isn't it true that there has now been 43 months of unemployment numbers over 8%? Yes. most economists expect unemployment numbers to be over 8% well into 2014.

How many months in a row have there now been positive job growth numbers? The United States has seen 30 months in a row of positive job growth numbers.

Doesn't the reduced unemployment numbers include people leaving the workforce? Yes, it includes people who have given up looking for work or who have retired. With the "baby boomers", the number of people retiring will be a continuing high number.

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