Unemployment claims fall in new sign of gradual labor recovery

[g8orbill]

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/reco...ployed-january

From the article:

he number of Americans designated as "not in the labor force" in February was 89,304,000, a record high, up from 89,008,000 in January, according to the Department of Labor. This means that the number of Americans not in the labor force increased 296,000 between January and February.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) labels people who are unemployed and no longer looking for work as “not in the labor force,” including people who have retired on schedule, taken early retirement, or simply given up looking for work.

The increase marks the second month in a row, after rising in January from 88.8 million in December. Those not in the labor force had declined in December from 88.9 million in November.

[mastoidbone]

good report overall.

[surfn1080]

Originally Posted by mdgator05

First, a minor point, but participation rates are not at an all time low. They are at a recent time low. They were lower as recently as the early 1980s.

Second, what is this mythical "real unemployment rate?" The BLS reports 6 different unemployment rates consisting of a variety of different definitions. The metrics have thus far tracked change pretty consistently, although by definition the levels differ.

If you take those on unemployment benefits plus the those not participating in the work force and no longer receiving unemployment benefits, wouldn't that be a more real number? Obviously we will need to research if those on ssdi or va vets that are disabled a part of that participation rate.

[Burke]

Why should the Dems want the economy to recover?

The more hungry, desperate people there are the more people in need of handouts, the more voters they will have.