In total, there are 6.9 million fewer jobs today than there were in December 2007. The unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent for August 2011.. Unemployment to the mass media generally centers on that single point within the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly employment report. There is passing mention of discouraged workers and the underemployed, but the true scale of the jobs crisis is given scant attention considering the magnitude of the problem.
The corporate media underreports or ignores completely details of the unemployment Crisis. The job deficit is estimated at 11.3 million. In order to fill this job deficit, we have to add 400,000 jobs every single month. Amongst the unemployed there are 2.6 million workers that are considered marginally attached. If they are included in the unemployment rate, that rate increases from 9.1 percent to 10.6 percent.
There are also people who are not reported as unemployed, because they haven’t looked for a job in the last 12 months. Then you have people who are considered long-term unemployed. These are the people who have been looking for a job for 6 months or more. A lot of these people who are unemployed have exhausted all unemployment benefits. These people are considered “99ers” having been out of work for 99 weeks or more and represent over 3 million people.
On average just one third of all unemployed are eligible for unemployment benefits at the state level. Some temporary staff, self-employed, high school, and college graduates are out of work, and not eligible for benefits.
Title: 11 Reasons Why the Unemployment Crisis is Even Worse Than You Think.”
Source: Alternet, September 14, 2011
Author: Michael Thornton
Student Researcher: Joshua Nervis- Sonoma State University
Faculty Evaluator: Cynthia Boaz, Sonoma State University