And Just When You Thought Unemployment Charts Couldn't Get Worse

[HotRocks]

They do: Even More Unemployment Charts

[MooreTime]

 

[Broil]

Awww, that was no fair.  The population's been growing too, so I want to see one with unemployed as a percentage of employable population, not the absolute number.

But it should be the older way of calculating unemployment, not the new one that Clinton or Carter or someone sneaked in on us.  I think it's called U6 now?  It should be at Shadowstats.

[picasso moon]

In 1960, US population was about 180 million. It's less than twice that now, the number of long term now is over 5 times that of 1958. Growth since 1975 is only a factor of some 1.5, growth in long term now to then is over 3.5. And so on.  I'd say quite fair.

[picasso moon]

1940 - 132,164,569
1950 - 151,325,798
1960 - 179,323,175
1970 - 203,302,031
1980 - 226,542,199
1990 - 248,709,873
2000 - 281,421,906
2008 estimated was 304,000,000 plus change.

[kenjamkov]

If you look at 1983, the second highest # in the chart, the population was about 234million.  Which means about 1% of the population jobless for more than 27 months.

Compare that to today with a population of about 308 million and a number of 5.6 million in the chart.  1.8% of the population jobless for more than 27months.  That is nearly double the highest number.  What they don't show is pre-1948 numbers.

Just think about that.  More than 3 times the number of standing military personnel are sitting at home because they haven't had a job in 2 years!

[realitycheck]

At ease.
Chart says WEEKS unemployed.

[picasso moon]

What chart are you looking at?

[dwheeler]

At ease.
Chart says WEEKS unemployed.

I was unemployed for 8 months ....  How many weeks have you been?

The difference with what is going on now is people are begging for anything to do in some parts of the country.  There are NO jobs.

[cygnus]

Awww, that was no fair.  The population's been growing too, so I want to see one with unemployed as a percentage of employable population, not the absolute number.

Yeah, that would help.  Although I think it's safe to say that the population didn't more than TRIPLE between 2007 and 2009/10.   

[shaleoh2]

exponential's wait for no one (just  like doom)

[perdition79]

The difference with what is going on now is people are begging for anything to do in some parts of the country.  There are NO jobs.

Spot on. When I'm speaking to human resources folks on the phone, I'll small talk with them after they say they'll keep my application on file should a position open.  These are jobs on the Florida state job website, supposedly vacant, and the HR people say the same thing: they're not hiring, just accepting applications. A couple have stated that their businesses receive tax incentives to list jobs through the state if the possibility exists that they will hire within six months of the posting.

There are no jobs.

[auntiegrav]

It's ALL bullshit.
First: let's see a chart of how many people produced food vs. how many are now unemployed over the same time period.
Second: Compare how many people are actively engaged in doing USEFUL work that provides FUTURE USEFULNESS instead of just Consumptive Behaviors that use up stored resources.
Third: The reality is that the vast majority of needs are met by a very few people's efforts. "Employment" is irrelevant to the future needs of the planet. Most people could just stay home and be fed and clothed without changing the potentials of humans as contributors/consumers, and in fact, if we sent most "employed" people home with full pay, the planet and economy would be better off. Especially if they 'work' for government, where they spend their time finding ways to justify their paychecks by killing trees and people who don't have so much technology.
Fourth: We have spent the last 100 years replacing human muscles with petroleum. Now, everyone is fat and unemployed. It seems that the best thing we can do is shut down all of the oil wells. When the lack of easy living finally sets in, people can start being useful to each other again, instead of just 'producing' for the banks and governments.

[cz]

Fourth: We have spent the last 100 years replacing human muscles with petroleum. Now, everyone is fat and unemployed. It seems that the best thing we can do is shut down all of the oil wells. When the lack of easy living finally sets in, people can start being useful to each other again, instead of just 'producing' for the banks and governments.

We won't have to shut down anything, 'mother nature' is taking care of that all by herself.