How are the figures really determined?
Figures for unemployment are published on a monthly basis are in fact derived from a monthly survey of 60,000 households in the United States, known as the Current Population Survey. The survey is conducted by the Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The information is collected in the survey is adjusted to reflect population estimates independent across the nation. These adjustments take into account factors such as the state of residence, sex, age and race. Despite the adjustments, but it is important to note that because the investigation is not a full account, the results of the sample can not expect to be the same as if a survey of the entire population have been taken.

---

ADA Calls for Unemployment Benefits Extension

WASHINGTON – October 2 – Americans for Democratic Action, proud liberals fighting on behalf of working and unemployed Americans for 62 years, released the following statement about today’s unemployment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“The real unemployment rate released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 17%, over 7 points higher than the officially reported rate,” said ADA National Director Michael J. Wilson

The real rate includes marginally attached workers which the BLS reports “are neither working nor looking for work but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past. Discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached, have given a job-market related reason for not looking currently for a job. Persons employed part time for economic reasons are those who want and are available for full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule.”

“We cannot underscore enough the seriousness of the unemployment situation,” Wilson continued. “There is no recovery without job creation.”

“The latest BLS report shows 35.6% of the unemployed have been without work for more than 27 weeks.

“Unemployed for a day, you can make it. Unemployed for a month, you will struggle. Unemployed for six months and you are facing disaster. It’s not just how many are jobless, but also for how long.

Original full article sourced from Common Dreams

Related posts:

1. The real truth about the unemployment rate “A true labor market depression faced those in the bottom…of the income distribution; a...
2. 23 states report higher unemployment for September Measuring unemployment is an art which can lead to highly variable rates. Unsurprisingly, the...
3. US unemployment reaches 10 per cent; government hiding real number Bernanke on Unemployment: ‘we don’t think it will get to 10 percent’ A better...