Opinion

Unemployment is more than you think

Posted January 31, 2009 10:00 pm

Why does the American public continue to accept misleading unemployment claims by the Labor Department every month?

It routinely states the percentage of those that have recently filed for unemployment compensation, basically ignoring those who no longer look for work since their compensation has run its course. In fact, if we include them together with those currently filing, the percentage is nearly doubled.

Fifty years ago when we had 130,000,000 people in the work force in this country, 6 percent unemployed meant 7.8 million. Today, with 210 million people in the work force 6 percent unemployment means 12.6 million.

Adding this difference to those already disqualified from receiving further compensation further illustrates the irrelevance of percentages in an expanding or contracting labor force.

James D. Cook

Streamwood

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