Since real unemployment is around 15% and the private sector isn't creating jobs

[white_wolf]

then why doesn't the government step in and create a new federal works program, like the Civilian works corps?

[tridim]

1. I just interviewed with an IT recruiter the other day..

and he said his company business is up 450% over the past 3 months.

Take that for what it's worth. I'm seeing a pretty definite uptick.

[dkf]

2. Very nice.

Thanks for that info.

[white_wolf]

3. The most recent offical stats place unemployment around 8%

so why doesn't the government step in and provide jobs? We did it during the Great Depression.

[Snoutport]

4. yeah...but are they hiring or holding their jobs and money in hopes of a Rep. prez in 12?

It just seems that prices are squeezing us, jobs are not being made, people aren't being hired....and it is all leading up to the election.

[tridim]

7. He seemed pretty certain he'd find a job for me within a few weeks.

We'll see.

[white_wolf]

8. That is great for you, but offically 8% are without jobs

the real numbers are even higher, so I ask again, why is the federal government not stepping in and doing its job? We have a whole lot of crumbling infrastructure that needs to be repaired for starters.

[pinqy]

14. Untrue

There's a difference between "without jobs" and "unemployed." 8.8% of the labor force is not working but looking for work. Without a job is about 41.5% of the adult civilian population (most don't want a job).

As for the Federal Government not doing it's job...there are over 13 million people looking for work, and 6 million more who say they want to work (though many of those aren't actually available to work). The government can't possibly make up jobs for even half of that.

And private sector jobs have been growing, while government jobs are being cut.

[Hotler]

19. (most don't want a job). That's rude,

Everyone I know that's out of work wants a job.

[pinqy]

22. I didn't say out of work, I said without a job.

Looking at the latest http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t01.htm">Employment Situation for March 2011, the Adult Civilian Non-Institutional Population was 239,000,000. Employed was 139,864,000, so that's 99,136,000 people without jobs. 13,542,000 are Unemployed (looking for work), leaving 85,594,000 not working or trying to work. Only 6,509,000 of them said they want a job now, so yes, most people not working don't want a job. These are retirees, full-time students, stay-at-home spouses. You don't know any students, retirees, stay-home spouses? Really?

I wasn't being rude, I was pointing the fact that terms have specific meanings. Without a job means not working, regardless of whether the person wants to or not. Out of work generally means had a job and lost it (less commonly it's used for people who quit). Unemployed means not working but looking for work, including people who just finished school and are starting to look, or people just out of prison, or going back to work after a child, etc, etc.

[Autumn Colors]

20. Or are no longer COUNTED because unemployment has run out

Not interested in working? Really?

And how does one know someone is not interested in working if no one is checking on that person anymore (because that person's unemployment has run out)?

You don't suppose a percentage of those without a job, who WANT a job and are still looking for one are just no longer included in those stats because they aren't checking in with the Unemployment anymore since their Unemployment ran out?

Does anyone really survey the people whose Unemployment has run out to see whether they're still looking or if they've found something?

[pinqy]

21. UI benefits have NEVER been a part of the Unemployment rate

The Unemployment figures come from a monthly survey and has nothing to do with ever receiving benefits. People are asked if they worked during the reference week and if not whether they looked for work in the previous 4 weeks. If did not work but looked for work, they are unemployed. This includes people who have never had a job, people re-entering the labor force. Benefits are irrelevant.

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm">How the government measures unemployment

[bluethruandthru]

5. Why is this getting unrecced? n/t

[white_wolf]

6. DLC types?

I've noticed some posters here have drunk the RW kool-aid of trusting fully in the private sector and "free market."

[slackmaster]

I Unrecced it because the premise is false, and for general whining

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the private sector added 230,000 jobs in March.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/business/economy/02jobs.html#tab=0

[white_wolf]

11. Offically 8% are still unemployed, so

let's put those people to work, there is a lot that needs to be done.

[Recursion]

17. Where will they work? What will they do? Where will the money come from?

It's not exactly trivial to hire several million people in widely separate locations all at once. CCC was only possible because people were so desperate they were willing to move -- anywhere -- at the drop of a hat.

[midnight]

9. It has been said that it's not the govt. job to create jobs for private citizens...

However.... for the big guns like monsanto, and oil.... they can roll out the red carpet and help create all kinds of jobs for private corporations...

[Starry Messenger]

10. They don't fear us the way they did back in the day. Yet.

[SoCalDem]

12. No matter how many jobs get added, if they are low-quality service jobs

we are still in trouble..

My son is a prime example.. He went from a 60K+ a year crane operator in a steel mill to waiting tables.. he lost a job and got a job, but if he did not rent a cheap place with 3 roommates & have a crappy car (he had to sell his beloved Audi), he would be up shit creek without a paddle. He's a single guy, with no credit cards, so he;s managing..barely.. He and his fiancee wanted to get married, but she's a teacher whose contract was not renewed, so she went from full time teaching, to part time substitute teaching..:(

[raccoon]

13. Great post. Please consider starting a thread on this.

Because this seems to be exactly what is happening. And has been for several decades.

[Recursion]

15. Because in the 1930's that never got unemployment below 15% or so

Direct hiring is harder to make effective than people seem to think.

[Davis_X_Machina]

16. Because you and I aren't senators...

...nor are there 60 senators willing to 'step in and create a new federal works program.'

Remember February and March of 2009?

And that was before the House changed hands.

[IndyPragmatist]

18. jobs aren't being created because of uncertainty

The private sector has no clue what is going to happen in Washington due to the bickering between parties. The healthcare law is causing some uncertainty, but most of that stems from republicans trying to overturn it or defund it. The law is a major change in how many private companies will provide health insurance, and right now, they have no clue what is going to happen. I read many articles after it was first passed talking about how it will cause private companies to hold off some hirings until it is in effect, but that would only likely be jobs at the margin. If a company could profit a fair amount from a new employee, they would hire them. Now, the republican attempts to overturn it are causing even more uncertainty. Combine that with the fact that the republican majority may attempt to lower the corporate tax rate, they are waiting to see how things turn out to ensure they don't get stuck with employees that are costing them money.

[upi402]

23. Yes! Like the first NRA

Sustainability is a slam dunk - but we're stuck on stupid due to the fascists in charge.