Actually, The Unemployment Ratio Is 41%

Business Insider ^ | Apr. 6, 2010, | Joe Weisenthal |

[george76]

The broadest measure of unemployment is the Civilian Employment-Population Ratio, which is exactly what it sounds like: the ratio of employed civilians to the total population. It stands right around 59%, which is the lowest its been since the early 80s.

demographics won't be very favorable here as more and more Americans retire, placing a greater strain on those who are working.

[Bernard]

recovery could very well be jobless

NEWS FLASH - the recovery IS jobless. Other than the job the government is doing on the citizens.

[AzaleaCity5691]

Ok, so the key phrase here is “employed civilians”

So they are including children, students, military and retirees all in their employment number.

I’m sorry but that’s bogus. I’m not working right now. However, I’m not unemployed. Why? Because I’m retired.

[Sherman Logan]

True.

However, the number is pretty relevant if you want to compare the presently productive to presently non-producing members of society.

[DrC]

“I’m sorry but that’s bogus.”

As a measure of employment, you’re right. There’s something called the dependency ratio which is the inverse of the statistic they’ve calculated: it takes all who aren’t working and divides by all who are to figure out how many non-workers effectively are being supported by workers.

This number has been increasing over time which doesn’t bode well for the ability of workers to both support their families AND a growing number of retirees. At a time when we should be encouraging as much productive work as possible, we’re instead raising taxes and expanding entitlements, both of which will undercut incentives to work.

[rbosque]

If it were truly that high, we’d see riots. The real rate of employable people should be about 17-20%. That, I would buy.

[The Sons of Liberty]

If it were truly that high, we’d see riots.

I agree, but if the 17 - 20% who are unemployed get to the point where they are desperate, we could still see riots.

[RobRoy]

>>If it were truly that high, we’d see riots. I agree, but if the 17 - 20% who are unemployed get to the point where they are desperate, we could still see riots.<<

Wait 'till the unemployment extensions stop.

[unspun]

It is amazing how stupid, liberal/socialist political philosophies are. Staggeringly ignorant of reality.

[unspun]

I agree, but if the 17 - 20% who are unemployed get to the point where they are desperate, we could still see riots.

That is what the Gramsci-Alinsky-Cloward-Piven saboteurs want.

[OB1kNOb]

recovery could very well be jobless

NEWS FLASH - the recovery IS jobless. Other than the job the government is doing on the citizens.

NEWS FLASH FLASH - and there is NO RECOVERY.

[The Sons of Liberty]

The obamunists who push the Cloward-Priven, et al. may be sorely surprised when all hell breaks loose.

[rbosque]

Perhaps, that would depend on the people’s disposition. The Philippines had 60% unemployment at one time but they didn’t riot. If Bush were still in office, they might be egged on to riot. A lot of people might turn to black markets and certainly crime might escalate. In addition, this administration has a purpose, that is, according to the Laffer curve, there will be a point where high unemployment and high taxes will not yield a high tax revenue. Obama is driving this train into a wall.

[Gator113]

Check this out... it gets darker every day.

http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html

[katana]

Understood. The title was a bit over the top, but the trend is not good. A continuing smaller and declining (for numerous reasons besides the present economy, aging demographic being the biggest) percentage of working population means that virtual enslavement to the needs of the non-workers is what the future holds for our kids and grand kids.

A breaking point (philosophy aside, Atlas will have to shrug in order to survive) will be reached sooner rather than later.

Not sure where the self-employed (my present status) fit in all this, but I thought it was an interesting way to look at the underlying issues.

[ex-snook]

Why should companies hire Americans when the stock market reflects the success of their current practices?

[RobRoy]

>>Perhaps, that would depend on the people’s disposition. The Philippines had 60% unemployment at one time but they didn’t riot.<<

...and the culture. A simple Rodney King verdict let to some serious rioting. So does your team winning the basketball playoffs. Our culture is different than the Phioippines. More of us need income simply to survive. There are a LOT of differences that would factor into a completely different response to higher than “normal” unemployment.

[rbosque]

So at what point would you say they would riot?

[RobRoy]

>>So at what point would you say they would riot?<<

THAT is the right question.

I call it "critical mass". I don't know when it will happen, but I believe it will happen. I believe the congress does to and that is why we get these unemployment questions. The only thing more dangerous than tens of millions on unemployment is tens of millions of unemployed RUNNING OUT of unemployment benefits.

They are, right now, a sleeping tiger. And the gravy train is about to end. http://economy.freedomblogging.com/2010/04/07/unemployment-payouts-hit-100-million-a-day/30609/ http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/economy/bill-cuts-nj-unemployment-benefits-by-50 http://www.completetax.com/taxguide/news/10-365UnempTrustFunds.asp

[rbosque]

I’m in a tough part of L.A. I know that if there’s a food or water shortage, these people will go nuts. Lucky for me I’m packing.