Obama moves U.S. unemployment rate to 3-year-low

Little can be deduced from figures for one month and the unemployment rate is quite high. Unemployment is measured only among those actively seeking work. Many discouraged workers who have given up seeking work will not appear in the figures. The labor force has actually declined and this may indicate that there are more discouraged workers. Add to this the fact that much of the employment may be due to seasonal hiring. Although some compensation is made for this in the figures it is often not adequate. See this article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/01/06/us-jobs-december.html

true...but so much of the US economy is psychological. When people are confident that things are heading in the right direction spending and growth follows.

If the psychology improves you may actually see an increase in unemployment next month as formerly discouraged workers decide there is more of a chance to get work!

Confience doesn't buy food or pay for the rent. It's all a political ploy by all sides to say whatever the party in charge wants it to say. There are millions of people out of work that will never be able to find a job again. The very same people that Congress wants to put out on the street by cutting social service programs and unemployment benefits that give them at least a chance to keep a roof over their heads and some semblance of food on the table.

The number released by the government that measures unemployment are based on those collecting benefits; it does not include those whose benefits have run out, those lost jobs but were unable to get benefits in the first place - temporary workers aren't considered employed, and those who are unable to work. The true number of unemployed potential workers in the United States runs above 25%.

Sherrill - everything you said i agree with. The true Unempl rate is much higher than the official numbers. And i am very much aware of the fact that confidence pays for nothing. I live in a very depressed area and the jobless rate in real terms is close to 30% here. However, I have seen some signs of life in this horrible place so there may be a slight up tic happening. How long it lasts ---i don't know.

cutting benefits may sound good to some people but it is counterproductive to the economy to force austerity. The bulk of the money paid in benefits to the poor and unemployed goes right back into the economy. I think it's something like 80 cents of every dollar.

the bigger picture would be much worse if the unemployment rate had gone up instead of down no matter how u figure it, so this is a positive step IMO

I agree with northsumm32. A drop of .02 percent isn't much at all. That's normal fluctuation. I wonder where those 200,000 jobs went to? Healthcare? Computers? Manufacturing? Sales? Could the 200,000 jobs just have been seasonal for the Christmas rush?

But something is happening within the government. Social Security gave a cost of living increase since its freeze in 2009. It was a two-fold increase. Everyone got an increase of 3.6 percent, and a reduction in Medicare premiums. Last year's premium was about $135 a month. Now, it is about $99 a month, giving most a welcome boost.

Cost of living is in the Social Security charter, and during the freeze, Obama promised each year a one time check of $250. However, 2010 checks never went out.

All last month Social Security needed money from the general fund to fund one month, and said to meet current projections, they would need an infusion for the entire year to keep the status quo.

So, where did the extra money come from?

I know Social Security has nothing to do with a decrease in unemployment, but I wonder if they are connected?

With the troops home from Iraq, most of the reservists will not have a job to go back to, even though federal law requires the employer to hire them back. Could this be where the 200,000 increase in jobs for December came from?

OK, enough rambling. Maryann, I like your story because it actually does make one think how this happened, and why a big deal is being made about such a small drop.

Rated up and I sent it out all over.

a small drop is better than an increase no matter how you look at it. As for SS...i live in an area where there are a lot of retirees on the south side of the county. Any increase in SS will be spent and put back into the economy. I have seen it happen over the 22 yrs i've been here. When low income and middle class people get money they spend it.

What do you do with your tax refund if you get one? Do you save every penny or spend some or all of it? I rest my case. (lol)

Whoops! Looks like the Republicans are slipping. Now they're going to have to roll up their shirtsleeves, put their shoulders to the grindstone and double-down their efforts to sabotage the recovery.

it does seem like the republicans have been doing everything they can to make sure the economy tanks. Forcing the US credit rating to go up was the most obvious. If the GOP would have actually gone to work at making things better instead of blocking everything, they would have had a much better chance of winning the White House. Instead they have only won the worst approval rating of congress in history.

well written - thank you

Based on this presidents history
...next month, down we go

Great news report...Thanks for sharing...!!!

Lucky to have president at-least, look at Pakistan a dog like Zardari is running our government.

Very Informative Report. Rated Up
Please Visit My Section.