Category Archives: Jobs

NC May unemployment rate worse than reported by North Carolina newspapers, June 21, 2013 articles, Drop in labor force not stated, 1 percent labor force drop in 4 months

NC May unemployment rate worse than reported by North Carolina newspapers, June 21, 2013 articles, Drop in labor force not stated, 1 percent labor force drop in 4 months

 
“If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world but I am sure we would be getting reports from hell before breakfast.”… William Tecumseh Sherman

“The function of the press is very high. It is almost Holy.
It ought to serve as a forum for the people, through which
the people may know freely what is going on. To misstate or
suppress the news is a breach of trust.”…. Louis D. Brandeis

“the Times of the nineteenth of December had published the official forecasts of the output of various classes of consumption goods in the fourth quarter of 1983, which was also the sixth quarter of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. Today’s issue contained a statement of the actual output, from which it appeared that the forecasts were in every instance grossly wrong. Winston’s job was to rectify the original figures by making them agree with the later ones.”…George Orwell, “1984”

To fix a problem you must:

Be aware of the problem.

Understand the problem.

That is why the underreporting and misrepresentation of the unemployment rate in the US and NC must be exposed.

The NC Labor Force Participation Rate dropped 1 percent from January to May 2013.

From Citizen Wells June 23, 2013.

“The Greensboro News Record on Friday June 21, 2013 regurgitated an AP report about the May unemployment rate in NC. The report was misleading and dishonest.

“NC jobless rate falls to 8.8 percent in May”

“North Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.8 percent in May from April’s revised rate of 8.9 percent, marking the fourth straight month of slow improvement in the measure of economic health for workers, the state Commerce Department said Friday.”

“Now I’m not a rocket scientist, but I can read.

So I went to the NC labor data website and found that the labor force participation rate in NC fell .1 percent in May. That fully accounted for the .1 percent drop in the unemployment rate.

Can’t the folks at the News Record or the AP read?”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/nc-jobless-rate-falls-to-8-8-percent-in-may-greensboro-news-record-ap-labor-force-participation-rate-dropped-1-percent-dishonest-media-reports-dishonest-bernanke-report/

From Citizen Wells May 19, 2013.

“The Associated Press has always been a problem. A member “news” organization creates a report and it is regurgitated across the nation & world, in most cases without fact checking.

We have another example recently from the Greensboro News Record.

Is this because the Rhino Times just shut down?

Or because John Coleman, an economics professor at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business was quoted?

From the Greensboro News Record May 17, 2013.

“North Carolina unemployment rate drops 8.9 percent”

“North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent in April _ the lowest in the state in four years.

The state’s unemployment rate was 9.2 percent in March.

“This is very encouraging for North Carolina,” said John Coleman, economics professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/nc-unemployment-rate-8-9-percent-greensboro-news-record-ap-article-quotes-duke-university-economics-professor-labor-force-participation-rate-dropped-3-percent-good-news/

I decided to check the reporting of the NC unemployment rate for May in other NC newspapers.

The Raleigh News Observer had the most accurate report.

“North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell for the fourth consecutive month in May to 8.8 percent, but the slight drop was largely due to a shrinking labor force rather than the creation of new jobs, economists said.”

Read more:
Most of the other newspapers that I checked regurgitated the same AP article.
The 1 percent drop in the Labor Force Participation Rate in NC essentially means that the unemployment rate is 9.8 and not 8.8 percent. That also is an increase of .3 from the January 2013 rate of 9.5 percent.

NC jobless rate falls to 8.8 percent in May?, Greensboro News Record AP, Labor force participation rate dropped .1 percent, Dishonest media reports, Dishonest Bernanke report

NC jobless rate falls to 8.8 percent in May?, Greensboro News Record AP, Labor force participation rate dropped .1 percent, Dishonest media reports, Dishonest Bernanke report

“11.4%: What the U.S. unemployment rate would be if labor force participation were back to January 2008 levels.” …James Pethokoukis, American Enterprise Institute, June 2013

“Although the numbers are not directly comparable, local labor markets
across much of North Carolina began 2013 no differently than they
began 2012,” said Quinterno. “Simply put, unemployment rates remain
elevated across the state, and twice as many North Carolinians are
jobless and seeking work than was the case five years ago.”…SBN Strategies March 22, 2013

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

 

The Greensboro News Record on Friday June 21, 2013 regurgitated an AP report about the May unemployment rate in NC. The report was misleading and dishonest.

“NC jobless rate falls to 8.8 percent in May”

“North Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.8 percent in May from April’s revised rate of 8.9 percent, marking the fourth straight month of slow improvement in the measure of economic health for workers, the state Commerce Department said Friday.

“The headline is going to say that unemployment goes down a notch,” said Robert Whaples, chairman of the economics department at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. “But it’s not really that beautiful of a change from a month ago.”

North Carolina remains stuck with the country’s fifth-highest unemployment rate behind Nevada, Illinois, Mississippi and Rhode Island. The national rate rose from 7.5 percent in April to 7.6 percent in May.

The numbers show the total number of employed in North Carolina rose by about 1,000 people between April and May, while the total number of unemployed workers dropped by nearly 2,500, Whaples said. Equally meaningful is that even as the state’s population continues to grow, the number of people in the labor force _ people who are of working age who have a job or are looking for one _ dropped in May by about 1,400, signaling people are still dropping out and ending their job search, Whaples said.

The number of people employed in North Carolina has increased by more than 37,000 in the past year, but there are still more than 416,000 people listed as unemployed.”

“”That’s the good news. Our employment in this state has not fallen since the beginning of the recession. It hasn’t gotten better. It went down. It came back up. so we’re sort of back where we started,” he said. “The last few months haven’t been much. The last year, it’s been enough to keep up with population growth. But it could be worse.””

Read more:

http://www.news-record.com/news/north_carolina_ap/article_f2cad77b-33b3-5f27-914b-fb285076ebd9.html

Now I’m not a rocket scientist, but I can read.

So I went to the NC labor data website and found that the labor force participation rate in NC fell .1 percent in May. That fully accounted for the .1 percent drop in the unemployment rate.

Can’t the folks at the News Record or the AP read?

Don’t they care?

Or is this part of an agenda?

And what about Ben Bernanke stating that the US unemployment rate could fall to 6.5 percent in 2014.

That sounds dishonest to me.

Especially when the current US unemployment rate is 11.4 percent based on 2008 labor rates.

And when you use the May 2008 labor force rate for NC the current NC unemployment rate is 11.5 percent.

Don’t take my word for it.

Check it for yourself.

http://esesc23.esc.state.nc.us/d4/LausSelection.aspx

Bernanke unemployment could hit 6.5 percent in 2014, Pigs could fly too?, 11.4 percent based on 2008 labor force participation, Real unemployment part time workers and no benefits

Bernanke unemployment could hit 6.5 percent in 2014, Pigs could fly too?, 11.4 percent based on 2008 labor force participation, Real unemployment part time workers and no benefits

“11.4%: What the U.S. unemployment rate would be if labor force participation were back to January 2008 levels.” …James Pethokoukis, American Enterprise Institute, June 2013

“Private sector employment increased by 119,000 jobs from March to April, according to the April ADP National Employment Report….The March report, which reported job gains of 158,000, was revised downward to 131,000 jobs.”...ADP May 1, 2013

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

Yesterday Ben Bernanke stated that unemployment could hit 6.5 percent in 2014.

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda.

Recently Market Watch queried a group of economists. One of them,  James Pethokoukis, of the American Enterprise Institute, accurately stated:

“11.4%: What the U.S. unemployment rate would be if labor force participation were back to January 2008 levels.”

So why are Ben Bernanke, the media, the Obama Administration and many in the financial community touting an improved jobs situation?

Bernanke said that unemployment could hit 6.5 percent in 2014.

I suppose that pigs could fly too. If given the proper stimulus.

Unemployment rate 11.4 percent based on 2008 labor force participation, Slowing in hiring and economy, Large number of workers struggle for full time work, U-6 number 13.8 percent

Unemployment rate 11.4 percent based on 2008 labor force participation, Slowing in hiring and economy, Large number of workers struggle for full time work, U-6 number 13.8 percent

“11.4%: What the U.S. unemployment rate would be if labor force participation were back to January 2008 levels.” …James Pethokoukis, American Enterprise Institute, June 2013

“Private sector employment increased by 119,000 jobs from March to April, according to the April ADP National Employment Report….The March report, which reported job gains of 158,000, was revised downward to 131,000 jobs.”...ADP May 1, 2013

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

I watched the financial markets yesterday salivate over the perceived employment picture. Once again, mostly ignoring the data.

From Market Watch June 7, 2013.

“• “The May uptick notwithstanding, the gradual downward trend in the headline jobless rate belies the magnitude of the issue. A much larger number of workers are still struggling to find full-time employment, settling on part-time work to make ends meet. That broader measure of joblessness (the so-called U-6 number) ticked fractionally lower, but remains elevated at 13.8%.” — Jim Baird, Plante Moran Financial Advisors.

• “The report is inconclusive in its implications for monetary policy. We think the slowing in hiring and in the economy will concern everyone on the FOMC and the pace of jobs gains falls short of the 200k mark mentioned by some of the core members of the Committee. However, there will still be those for whom this is enough progress to step down the pace of purchases, and they are likely to continue to voice disparate views, adding volatility to markets and keeping uncertainty about policy high.” — Julia Coronado, BNP Paribas.

• “Immediate reaction: OK, but not overwhelming report. Going in the right direction, but not strongly. Report not strong enough to end QE3, Fed stays the course.” — Douglas Holtz-Eakin, American Action Forum, over Twitter.

• “11.4%: What the U.S. unemployment rate would be if labor force participation were back to January 2008 levels.” — James Pethokoukis, American Enterprise Institute, over Twitter”

Read more:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ok-but-not-overwhelming-jobs-reactions-2013-06-07
“Why battle lines are drawn over the labor force participation rate”

“In discussions about this morning’s May unemployment report, the labor force participation rate will continue to get a lot of attention.

“The labor force participation rate is a way to measure when workers leave the workforce. The rate has been declining since 2000. It inched higher to 63.4% in May from 63.3% in April.

Experts say it has become a central issue simply because the drop defies easy explanation.

Some of the decline is demographics. As the Baby Boomers age, they participate less in the workforce. But other factors are at play. Workers under the age 25 are working less. And then there is a decline in participation among men of prime working age, particularly among minorities.

Economists have been fiercely debating the trend. Will it continue, and what are the reasons behind the drop?”

LaborForce2013

Read more:

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/election/2013/06/07/why-battle-lines-are-drawn-over-the-labor-force-participation-rate/

“what are the reasons behind the drop?”

Please!

Obama, et al.

May unemployment rate 7.6 percent, June 7, 2013, US Labor Dept, 175000 jobs added, Labor force participation rate 63.4 percent

May unemployment rate 7.6 percent, June 7, 2013, US Labor Dept, 175000 jobs added, Labor force participation rate 63.4 percent

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Private sector employment increased by 119,000 jobs from March to April, according to the April ADP National Employment Report….The March report, which reported job gains of 158,000, was revised downward to 131,000 jobs.”...ADP May 1, 2013

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

From ADP June 5, 2013.
“ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Employment Increased by 135,000 Jobs in May”
“Private sector employment increased by 135,000 jobs from April to May, according to the May ADP National Employment Report®, which is produced by ADP®, a leading provider of human capital management solutions, in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics. The report, which is derived from ADP’s actual payroll data, measures the change in total nonfarm private employment each month on a seasonally-adjusted basis. April’s job gains were revised downward to 113,000 from 119,000.”

http://www.adp.com/media/press-releases/2013-press-releases/adp-national-employment-report-for-may-2013.aspx

From the US Labor Department June 7, 2013.

"THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- MAY 2013

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000 in May, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 7.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment rose in professional and business services, food services
and drinking places, and retail trade.

Household Survey Data

Both the number of unemployed persons, at 11.8 million, and the unemployment rate, at 7.6 percent, were essentially unchanged in May. (See table A-1.)

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (7.2 percent), adult women (6.5 percent), teenagers (24.5 percent), whites (6.7 percent), blacks (13.5 percent), and Hispanics (9.1 percent) showed little or no change in May. The
jobless rate for Asians was 4.3 percent (not seasonally adjusted), little changed from a year earlier. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)

In May, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was unchanged at 4.4 million. These individuals accounted for 37.3 percent of the unemployed.
Over the past 12 months, the number of long-term unemployed has declined by 1.0 million."
(See table A-12.)

The civilian labor force rose by 420,000 to 155.7 million in May; however, the labor force participation rate was little changed at 63.4 percent. Over the year, the labor force participation rate has declined by 0.4 percentage point. The employment-population
ratio was unchanged in May at 58.6 percent and has shown little movement, on net, over the past year. (See table A-1.)"

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Private sector added 135000 Jobs in May, ADP National Employment Report, June 5, 2013, April revised downward, Economists expected 170K, Job growth slowed

Private sector added 135000 Jobs in May, ADP National Employment Report, June 5, 2013, April revised downward, Economists expected 170K, Job growth slowed

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Private sector employment increased by 119,000 jobs from March to April, according to the April ADP National Employment Report….The March report, which reported job gains of 158,000, was revised downward to 131,000 jobs.”...ADP May 1, 2013

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

 

From ADP June 5, 2013.
“ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Employment Increased by 135,000 Jobs in May”
“Private sector employment increased by 135,000 jobs from April to May, according to the May ADP National Employment Report®, which is produced by ADP®, a leading provider of human capital management solutions, in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics. The report, which is derived from ADP’s actual payroll data, measures the change in total nonfarm private employment each month on a seasonally-adjusted basis. April’s job gains were revised downward to 113,000 from 119,000.”

“Service-providing industries added 138,000 jobs in May, an improvement over the April gain of 113,000. However, the gains in May are below the average monthly gain of 156,000 during the first quarter. Among the service industries reported by the ADP National Employment Report, professional/business services added 42,000 jobs added over the month, more than twice as many as in April. Trade/transportation/utilities recorded a gain of 31,000 jobs, while financial activities added 7,000 jobs.

“U.S. private sector employment increased by 135,000 jobs during the month of May 2013, a slight increase over the previous month of April,” said Carlos A. Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of ADP. “The majority of new jobs in May came from the service-providing sector, which added a total of 138,000 jobs, while the goods-producing sector recorded a loss of 3,000 jobs. Notably, a gain of 5,000 jobs in the construction industry during May was offset by a decline of 6,000 lost jobs in the manufacturing industry.”

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, said, “The job market continues to expand, but growth has slowed since the beginning of the year. The slowdown is evident across all industries and all but the largest companies. Manufacturers are reducing payrolls. The softer job market this spring is largely due to significant fiscal drag from tax increases and government spending cuts.””

Read more:

http://www.adp.com/media/press-releases/2013-press-releases/adp-national-employment-report-for-may-2013.aspx

NC unemployment rate 8.9 percent ?, Greensboro News Record AP article quotes Duke University Economics Professor, Labor force participation rate dropped .3 percent, Good news?

NC unemployment rate 8.9 percent ?, Greensboro News Record AP article quotes Duke University Economics Professor, Labor force participation rate dropped .3 percent, Good news?

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Although the numbers are not directly comparable, local labor markets
across much of North Carolina began 2013 no differently than they
began 2012,” said Quinterno. “Simply put, unemployment rates remain
elevated across the state, and twice as many North Carolinians are
jobless and seeking work than was the case five years ago.”…SBN Strategies March 22, 2013

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

The Associated Press has always been a problem. A member “news” organization creates a report and it is regurgitated across the nation & world, in most cases without fact checking.

We have another example recently from the Greensboro News Record.

Is this because the Rhino Times just shut down?

Or because John Coleman, an economics professor at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business was quoted?

From the Greensboro News Record May 17, 2013.

“North Carolina unemployment rate drops 8.9 percent”

“North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent in April _ the lowest in the state in four years.

The state’s unemployment rate was 9.2 percent in March.

“This is very encouraging for North Carolina,” said John Coleman, economics professor at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

The state Commerce Department said Friday the number of people unemployed fell by 15,259 between March and April. On the downside, nearly 4,200 fewer people held jobs than in March.

The industry with the largest monthly increase: Leisure and hospitality services, which added 6,100 jobs. It was followed by financial activities with 2,000; government with 1,300, and professional and business services with 1,300.

January 2009 was the last time the state’s unemployment rate was at 8.9 percent.”

” Coleman said the report contained good news about North Carolina’s economy.”

“”What’s encouraging about the report is the large drop in the number of unemployed,” he said. That number seems to have more to do with new jobs than people who are deciding to give up rather than keep competing for work.

He also said the new figures bode well for North Carolina in the future.”

http://www.news-record.com/news/north_carolina_ap/article_f2cad77b-33b3-5f27-914b-fb285076ebd9.html

Huh???

From the Employment Security Commission of NC.

Labor Force Participation Rate

March 2013    62.8 %

April    2013    62.5 %

http://esesc23.esc.state.nc.us/d4/LausSelection.aspx

The Labor Force Participation Rate fell .3 percent in April.

That fully accounts for the drop in the unemployment rate and is certainly not good for the NC public.

Perhaps it is good for lying politicians and newspapers.

Mr. Coleman, did you actually make those statements that were reported???

Unemployment claims increase 32000, May 16, 2013, initial claims was 360k, 4 week moving average increased to 339k

Unemployment claims increase 32000, May 16, 2013, initial claims was 360k, 4 week moving average increased to 339k

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Since the Democrats took control of both houses of congress in January 2007, the number of people who could only find part time work has gone up 215 percent”…Citizen Wells

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

From the US Labor Dept may 16, 2013.

n the week ending May 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 360,000, an increase of 32,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 328,000. The 4-week moving average was 339,250, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 338,000.

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20130939.htm

From Citizen Wells May 10, 2013.

“The US Labor Department BLS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, came out with 2 reports in May with their jobs and unemployment data. BLS reports on jobs and unemployment have long been suspect. A recent ADP report on private sector jobs added did not mesh well with the government reports.

The two BLS reports do not mesh well either.

From the BLS May 3, 2013.

“THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — APRIL 2013″

“The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was
revised from +268,000 to +332,000, and the change for March was
revised from +88,000 to +138,000. With these revisions, employment
gains in February and March combined were 114,000 higher than
previously reported.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

From the BLS May 7, 2013.

“Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary”

“JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – MARCH 2013″
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted
———————————————————————————————-
| Job openings              | Hires                            | Total separations
|————————————————————–
| Mar. | Feb. | Mar.     | Mar. | Feb.   | Mar. |    Mar. | Feb.   | Mar.
| 2012 | 2013 | 2013p| 2012 | 2013 | 2013p| 2012 | 2013 | 2013p
——————————-|————————————————————–
| Levels (in thousands)
|————————————————————–
|3,848 |3,899 |3,844 |4,435 |4,451 |4,259 |4,180 |4,180 |4,213
“Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining.
Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the hires level is steady or rising. Over the 12 months ending in March 2013, hires totaled 51.8 million and separations totaled 50.1 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.7 million. These figures include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.htm

The “p” stands for preliminary (decoder ring setting smoke & mirrors).

Using the BLS rules outlined above, the following calculations should yield the employment gains by month.

Feb 2013 hires                4,451,000

Minus

Feb 2013 separations   4,180,000

Feb job gains              271,000

Mar 2013 hires                4,259,000

Minus

Mar 2013 separations   4,213,000

Feb job gains                46,000

From the BLS above:

“The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was
revised from +268,000 to +332,000, and the change for March was
revised from +88,000 to +138,000.”

Huh?

Isn’t this what Orwell warned us about?”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/us-labor-department-bls-jobs-data-may-2013-cooking-the-books-unemployment-report-revised-numbers-job-openings-and-labor-turnover-summary-orwell-2-2-5/

US labor department BLS jobs data, May 2013, Cooking the books?, Unemployment report revised numbers, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, Orwell 2 + 2 = 5

US labor department BLS jobs data, May 2013, Cooking the books?, Unemployment report revised numbers, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, Orwell 2 + 2 = 5

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Since the Democrats took control of both houses of congress in January 2007, the number of people who could only find part time work has gone up 215 percent”…Citizen Wells

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

 

The US Labor Department BLS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, came out with 2 reports in May with their jobs and unemployment data. BLS reports on jobs and unemployment have long been suspect. A recent ADP report on private sector jobs added did not mesh well with the government reports.

The two BLS reports do not mesh well either.

From the BLS May 3, 2013.

“THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — APRIL 2013”

“The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was
revised from +268,000 to +332,000, and the change for March was
revised from +88,000 to +138,000. With these revisions, employment
gains in February and March combined were 114,000 higher than
previously reported.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

From the BLS May 7, 2013.

“Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary”

“JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – MARCH 2013”
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted
———————————————————————————————-
| Job openings              | Hires                            | Total separations
|————————————————————–
| Mar. | Feb. | Mar.     | Mar. | Feb.   | Mar. |    Mar. | Feb.   | Mar.
| 2012 | 2013 | 2013p| 2012 | 2013 | 2013p| 2012 | 2013 | 2013p
——————————-|————————————————————–
| Levels (in thousands)
|————————————————————–
|3,848 |3,899 |3,844 |4,435 |4,451 |4,259 |4,180 |4,180 |4,213
“Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining.
Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even if the hires level is steady or rising. Over the 12 months ending in March 2013, hires totaled 51.8 million and separations totaled 50.1 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.7 million. These figures include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.htm

The “p” stands for preliminary (decoder ring setting smoke & mirrors).

Using the BLS rules outlined above, the following calculations should yield the employment gains by month.

Feb 2013 hires                4,451,000

Minus

Feb 2013 separations   4,180,000

Feb job gains              271,000

Mar 2013 hires                4,259,000

Minus

Mar 2013 separations   4,213,000

Feb job gains                46,000

From the BLS above:

“The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was
revised from +268,000 to +332,000, and the change for March was
revised from +88,000 to +138,000.”

Huh?

Isn’t this what Orwell warned us about?

Markets rise on flawed data, ADP BLS Market Watch reports, Stated unemployment rate, Labor force participation rate, Part time work, Food stamps tell all

Markets rise on flawed data, ADP BLS Market Watch reports, Stated unemployment rate, Labor force participation rate, Part time work, Food stamps tell all

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“Since the Democrats took control of both houses of congress in January 2007, the number of people who could only find part time work has gone up 215 percent”…Citizen Wells

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

 

I have been reviewing employment data from ADP, BLS and a Market Watch report this morning. The stated unemployment rate, as most of you know, does not factor in the people who have dropped out of the work force and 2.8 percent have dropped out since Obama took office.

It also does not factor in the large increases in people who could only find part time work due to the economy and impact of Obamacare.

The ADP report of private sector jobs added does not match the BLS report. The Market Watch report echoes the BLS report and misrepresents the true unemployment rate:

“The acceleration in hiring nudged the unemployment rate down to 7.5% from 7.6% in March. That’s the lowest level since December 2008, the month before President Obama took office.”

The stock market has responded positively to this unrealistic data, much as it has this year.

I do not know how long the markets can be buoyed on false data, but numbers don’t lie.

20 percent, 1 in 5 Americans are on food stamps.

More details to come.