|
|
| |
Unemployment is typically discussed in terms of the Bureau of Labor Statistics 'offical' unemployment rate, which remained unchanged at 5.6% for the month of February. But the BLS definition of unemployment only classifies an individual as unemployed "if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work." This measure ignores "those who have no job and are not looking for one," many of whom should rightfully be excluded, but some of which are a product of the discouraged worker effect.
Some have pointed out that the BLS' measure of unemployment is too narrow in scope to serve as a proper gauge of employment levels across the nation. Any reasonable discussion of the issue of unemployment must address the economy's failure to provide the necessary level of adequately paying jobs. This might include four general categories: (1) individuals who are out of work and actively searching, (2) individuals who would like full-time work but have been involuntarily forced to accept part-time work, (3) individuals who have given up on their search, and (4) individuals working full-time and still earning incomes below the poverty level.
Read more about alternative unemployment measures at the National Jobs for All Coalition.
|
|
http://zfacts.com/p/549.html | 01/18/12 07:28 GMT
Modified: Mon, 17 Apr 2006 17:51:21 GMT
|
|
