Unemployment Down! ...but for the wrong reasons

[petegz28]

US economy adds 96K jobs, rate falls to 8.1 pct.
US economy adds 96K jobs; unemployment rate falls to 8.1 pct. as more people end job searches

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. employers added 96,000 jobs last month, a weak figure that could slow the momentum President Barack Obama hoped to gain from his speech Thursday night to the Democratic National Convention.

The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July. But that was only because more people gave up looking for work. People who are out of work are counted as unemployed only if they're looking for a job.

The government also said Friday that 41,000 fewer jobs were created in July and June than first estimated. The economy has added just 139,000 jobs a month since the start of the year, below 2011's average of 153,000.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-eco...123111662.html

[Iowanian]

This doesn't include the large number of buyouts for early retirement so they could be replaced by cheaper labor, correct?

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

It was surprising for me.

This whole job market though has me a little confused and frustrated. As someone who hires I have had a job opening for 4-5 months looking for just basic IT work in the evening that pays a good wage, 25-30k. Yet we can't fill the position and maybe have had 10 applicants.

I was thinking this would be a buyers market so I am kind of confused about all of this.

Originally Posted by KC Dan

I'm in the same boat. I wonder if the 99 weeks of $400-500/wk unemployment isn't really keeping job seekers from reentering the workforce. I have had 6 openings for 4 months and have only had 4 interviews to give. I hired one guy, one guy decided to be a cop and the other two were not willing to give up their search/unemployment for a $50k + traveling service engineer position. Crazy

This is the main reason I am assuming the job rate will fall like a rock by 2014. By then, the workforce will have reeducated themselves enough to make themselves qualified by the new job market.

1/3 of the unemployment is caused by exactly what you are describing: mismateched job opportunities with job applicants.

That's a curve that will fix itself, studies suggest by 2014.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KC Dan

I'm in the same boat. I wonder if the 99 weeks of $400-500/wk unemployment isn't really keeping job seekers from reentering the workforce. I have had 6 openings for 4 months and have only had 4 interviews to give. I hired one guy, one guy decided to be a cop and the other two were not willing to give up their search/unemployment for a $50k + traveling service engineer position. Crazy

Wow. I didn't think they made that much on unemployment, I thought it was like $200-300. If they are making that much that would explain it.

I had another job opening that took over 6 months to hire and had probably 10-15 applicants.

It just doesn't make sense to me unless as you pointed out they are making decent money to sit on their ass.

[Fairplay]

Barack, did you hear the latest unemployment news?

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

This is the main reason I am assuming the job rate will fall like a rock by 2014. By then, the workforce will have reeducated themselves enough to make themselves qualified by the new job market.

1/3 of the unemployment is caused by exactly what you are describing: mismateched job opportunities with job applicants.

That's a curve that will fix itself, studies suggest by 2014.

You may be right on the whole but I am looking for basic IT workers, a career that was heavily hit during the recession, and still can't find anyone willing to take it.

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by KC Dan

I'm in the same boat. I wonder if the 99 weeks of $400-500/wk unemployment isn't really keeping job seekers from reentering the workforce. I have had 6 openings for 4 months and have only had 4 interviews to give. I hired one guy, one guy decided to be a cop and the other two were not willing to give up their search/unemployment for a $50k + traveling service engineer position. Crazy

A buddy of mine lost his job in Nov. 2011 and went on unemployment. He did some job searching around town and found that he would get at least 75%-85% of the pay from staying on unemployment and sitting on his ass all day that he would get if he went to work for 40 hours a week.

Yeah, he was a lower level employee, but if you can get by on 75-85% of a salary just sitting on your ass, it makes it hard to want to find a job.

[Iowanian]

It sounds rude but it's too easy to remain unemployed.

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Wow. I didn't think they made that much on unemployment, I thought it was like $200-300. If they are making that much that would explain it.

How much you receive depends on each state how they do it. States pay differently they are not all the same rate. But generally the more you made the more the state would pay you. Ballpark figure 50 percent of weekly earnings.

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Wow. I didn't think they made that much on unemployment, I thought it was like $200-300. If they are making that much that would explain it.

I had another job opening that took over 6 months to hire and had probably 10-15 applicants.

It just doesn't make sense to me unless as you pointed out they are making decent money to sit on their ass.

If I was unemployed, I would get $519/wk here in Washington, unbelievable.

[DementedLogic]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Holy balls. Is that true?

Link?

Astonishing.

http://www.gop.gov/indepth/jobs/tracker

[Lightrise]

Even basic IT work isn't worth the trouble for 25K

[Lightrise]

When it comes to the labor force I was astonished with the resumes I received. People are illiterate. Even the Romney campaign had to fix spelling errors on his web site 3 times in one week.

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by Lightrise

Even basic IT work isn't worth the trouble for 25K

This is ridiculous! You are kidding right? People have to start somwhere and a job is a job. 25% for college grads say they can't find work (I don't believe that). You get your foot in the door and bust your azz to gain experience and move up. That is how you achieve the American Dream and how most us that are living that dream started.

Unless of course you believe that people should sit at home and draw $20k from Uncle Sam.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Fairplay

How much you receive depends on each state how they do it. States pay differently they are not all the same rate. But generally the more you made the more the state would pay you. Ballpark figure 50 percent of weekly earnings.

Originally Posted by KC Dan

If I was unemployed, I would get $519/wk here in Washington, unbelievable.

That's crazy. Almost $27,000 to sit on your ass.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Lightrise

Even basic IT work isn't worth the trouble for 25K

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