Jobless Claims Rise Sharper Than Expected

[Robert Oak]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=749&e=1&u=/nm/20041202/bs_nm/economy_jobless_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits jumped an unexpectedly large 25,000 last week, a government report showed on Thursday, while the number of longer-term unemployed fell to the lowest since April 2001.

I'm wondering of the long term unemployed if that just means those
still on the rolls. I don't have the stats but my understanding
is the ones who fell off the rolls w/o finding a job are in the millions.

[mhr]

1. Surprise, Surprise - Still Unemployed Here - 54 Months And Counting

eom

[China_cat]

4. We did 2 years

managed to keep the house and the car but the savings, retirement and 401k are all gone. The pension fund we paid into for almost 30 years has been wiped out and SS says that I am not eligible for any services after working all my life from the age of 16 on. They haven't taken my husband's SS yet but I expect that will be next. He's not a citizen. It will be easy to fuck him over and nobody to stand up for him.

My husband is now working 2 jobs that pay half what he was getting before (combined) and I see what he's going through. I wouldn't wish that on anybody else and the longer it goes on, the harder it gets to even keep trying. I hope you find something soon.

[mhr]

6. Hi China Cat - Thank You For The Kind Words Of Support

I think that many that have not suffered during the Bush reign have no clue how bad things really are.

I hope you and your husband find something better as well.

[area51]

9. many don't know

mhr said:

"... many that have not suffered during the Bush reign have no clue how bad things really are."

I certainly agree. Too many people who haven't been unemployed or have a loved one trying to find employment in this economy have absolutely no idea of how hard it is to get a job. I wish you massive good luck to get a decent job soon.

[China_cat]

2. If they counted the ones

that are off the rolls, the unemployment rate would be close to 24%.

[nickinSTL]

5. 24%?

Wow. I know it's significantly higher than the statistics, and my fiancee is one of those not counted, but 24%? wow.

She's been out of work for over 3 years now.

[China_cat]

7. Even the Department of Labor

admits to 10.9%...and that's counting people who are still on benefits, holding part-time temp jobs and those still looking.

[nickinSTL]

8. heh. so the 5-6% or whatever

is just political bs, eh?

I should have known.

[papau]

3. Perhaps tomorrow's job numbers will be of interest - the household

survey - lousy for total employed but good for unemployment rate - will be out

U-1 to U-6 rates will be shown.

U-3 is the rate that the media will sing about.

U-6 is the number you are looking for.

The difference between U-6 and U-3 is an add back of the ones who fell off the rolls w/o finding a job who were not included in U-3.

the ones who fell off the rolls w/o finding a job and who have stopped looking are still not included in U-6. But there may be an estimate of their size tomorrow also.