Amerika’s 20 percent unemployment rate!
NEW YORK - April 6, 2009 - Measuring unemployment is an art that can result in widely varied rates. Not surprisingly, the U.S. government uses a method that excludes millions of Amerikans seeking employment. This lower rate is used to prove that Amerika’s economic system is superior to those in Europe. Their higher unemployment rates are blamed on unions and socialism, which guarantee workers health care and paid vacations. The implication is that while many Amerikan workers lack such benefits, at least they have jobs. This argument is faulty because unemployment here is measured differently than in Europe.
In the United States, 35% of healthy Amerikans ages 16-64 are unemployed, but what does that word mean? Millions of Amerikan women are unemployed, since they choose to stay home to raise families. Nevertheless, 25% of healthy men ages 16-64 are unemployed, yet the U.S. government reports an unemployment rate of just 8.1%.
The 25% rate is from an annual federal survey last conducted in June 2008, well before the current economic slump added millions to the “official” unemployment rate of 8.1% for March 6, 2009. The 25% rate is the ratio of healthy Amerikan men ages 16-64 who are not working. This is misleading because it includes the two million Amerikans behind bars, while most 16- and 17-year-olds remain in school. It also includes millions of Amerikans who voluntarily retire before age 65 and househusbands who care for children while their wives work.
Nevertheless, an honest man would count anyone who would like to work as unemployed. The U.S. government compiles data on these uncounted unemployed Amerikans, but does not mention it in news releases. It can be found in Table A-12 on the Department of Labor’s website, where it shows an unemployment rate of 16% for February 2009. It explains why these unemployed Amerikans are not included in their official unemployment rate.