By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - General - Unemployment rates are severely under tracked.

superchunk on 22 July 2010
SamuelRSmith said:
superchunk said:
TheRealMafoo said:
superchunk said:
Tanstalas said:
 


If you don't include them then they are counted as EMPLOYED

Do you not understand what I am saying?


No, you just remove those numbers from the equation, just like elderly, children, handicapped to the point of incapable of working, etc. So instead of there being 300million people total there is 250million ... etc. Basically you don't count them at all.


I am fine with that, if you still counted those on  government assistance.

So someone unwilling to work but on welfare or unemployment, is unemployed.

I can't for the life of me understand how someone can not be counted as "unemployed", but still get an unemployment check.

Not to be rude, but who cares if you're fine with it, you're leaving.

Issues with Government statistic manipulation (including this unemployment debate) goes far beyond the USA. The whole employed-not employed measurements are almost identical to the UK, for example. Am  I not allowed to participate because I'm not from the USA (well, I'm actually there right now, but, you know what I mean)?


My comment was really just being sarcastic due to his leaving the US thread. But, now that you mention it, yeah I don't value your opinion because you are not American. USA is all that matters, you should know that by now, especially being from the UK.



Around the Network
SamuelRSmith on 22 July 2010

Haha, I do know that, but I don't mind. Unlike most, I understand and appreciate American dominance in most areas.... one of the reasons why I want to move out here (I'm currently in Florida).



superchunk on 22 July 2010
SamuelRSmith said:

Haha, I do know that, but I don't mind. Unlike most, I understand and appreciate American dominance in most areas.... one of the reasons why I want to move out here (I'm currently in Florida).


See, you didn't tell me you were living in FL. In that case, I reevaluate your opinion. Congrats! But, seriously, florida? You enjoy high humidity and dodging hurricanes?

Try Cali if you want to stay coastal with decent weather.



SamuelRSmith on 22 July 2010

Not living, just vacating for the month :P I've also been to New York, probably going Vegas next year (I say probably, because my parents are wanting to go, but you have to be 21 to actually gamble, which seems to be the main attraction - - and my brothers are even younger than I (will be 17 and 14 by the time we go), so there would less for us.

Maybe I should try and convince my parents for Cali - they were interested in it a few years ago. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii, but the flight is just too much for someone like me (the 9 hours to Orlando is enough to drive me insane).

So, you're going to have to re-re-evaluate my opinion back down again.



mike_intellivision on 22 July 2010

If anyone is leaving the US because they don't like how government statistics are kept ... I wonder about (a) their sanity and (b) their destination.

The examples in the link in the OP were UK and Australia -- not so much the US. 

Now don't get me wrong, I know there is a lot of "guess work" in government numbers. I use them all the time in my work. But I also know that it is the same way -- or worse -- just about everywhere. And unless someone is going to a country where they have a real connection, there are going to be a lot more issues than just being critical of the government -- people are going to be critical of you.

 

Mike from Morgantown



      


I am Mario.


I like to jump around, and would lead a fairly serene and aimless existence if it weren't for my friends always getting into trouble. I love to help out, even when it puts me at risk. I seem to make friends with people who just can't stay out of trouble.

Wii Friend Code: 1624 6601 1126 1492

NNID: Mike_INTV
Around the Network
Tanstalas on 22 July 2010
SamuelRSmith said:

Not living, just vacating for the month :P I've also been to New York, probably going Vegas next year (I say probably, because my parents are wanting to go, but you have to be 21 to actually gamble, which seems to be the main attraction - - and my brothers are even younger than I (will be 17 and 14 by the time we go), so there would less for us.

Maybe I should try and convince my parents for Cali - they were interested in it a few years ago. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii, but the flight is just too much for someone like me (the 9 hours to Orlando is enough to drive me insane).

So, you're going to have to re-re-evaluate my opinion back down again.

Is your family rich and just vacations in different parts of the world?



Unicorns ARE real - They are just fat, grey and called Rhinos

TheRealMafoo on 22 July 2010
mike_intellivision said:

If anyone is leaving the US because they don't like how government statistics are kept ... I wonder about (a) their sanity and (b) their destination.


Statistics is not why I am leaving the US, and the destination is New Zealand.



JWS on 22 July 2010
mike_intellivision said:

While not necessarily saying that many of the statements made by those who challenge the status quo, I can say that it is interesting that they often do not offer the same level of citation in the sources for their claims that would be expected for scientific rigor.

As for the claim regarding unemployment, in the US it does not measure those who are not seeking employment for any reason (student, home-maker, discouraged, retired). It also does not cover underemployment (you have a job but you are qualified for a better job). I cannot find information as to how someone working part-time is counted -- but my guess is that they are counted as employed, even if they want to be working full-time (this would correspond to another part of the underemployed non-counting).

 

Mike from Morgantown

The unemployment rate in america is figured by counting the people receiving unemployment benefits. So some part-time workers can still be considered unemployed if they still receive a partial check of their benefits. For example if your full unemployment check is normally 400, you can make up to 399 dollars and still get a check for 1 dollar if you work less than 40 hours.(The rules on how much you can make and still get benefits will vary from state to state). Once you exhaust your benefits and are no longer receiving a check you are no loner considered unemployed.



TheRealMafoo on 22 July 2010
JWS said:

The unemployment rate in america is figured by counting the people receiving unemployment benefits.

Sorry, but that's not how it works.

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm

You can get an unemployment check, and not be looking for a job. If you are not looking for a job, you are not part of the equation. So if you have a country of 3 people, 1 working, 1 looking for a job on unemployment, and 1 not looking for a job on unemployment, your unemployment rate would be calculated at 50%, not the 66% it should be.



TheRealMafoo on 22 July 2010

Oh, and not everyone who is unemployed gets unemployment benefits.