How many dropped out of the job market? The number of people in the work force keeps dropping nationally, which makes the unemployment rate drop. Note that the national unemployment rate counts ONLY those who have actively looked for jobs in the last 4 WEEKS. With unemployment lasting average of 6+ months, that 4 week period is unrealistic.
The unemployment rate is determined by surveys. During the Clinton administration, the Dept of Labor stopped surveying inner city residents, resulting in lowering the unemployment rates. Who knows what Brobama is doing.