where does the dept of labor come up with the 8.9 unemployment rate?

Question

Precisely, where does the dept. of labor come up with it's 8.9 unemployment rate? I ask this because how does the dept. of labor compile data on those who are unemployed, never received any benefits, and/or haven't worked for over a year? Does the dept. of labor use data from private/public sectors as well as that from unemployment benefit payments, IRS tax statements? what?

Answer 1

Something like the IRS #'s -

the number working plus the number applying to jobs equals 100%.

That way- people with jobs who apply someplace else count more than those who did not apply.

Answer 2

they go by how many quit drawing unemployment checks but you know as well as me just because their checks run out don,t mean they went back to work. they better be checking the welfare rolls too.

Answer 3

They just pick numbers out of the air to make Barack Husein Obama look good.

Answer 4

No, the 8.9% does not take into account the under-employed, those who have given up, those who have never applied, etc. It is 100% based on claims vs. those employed. The real unemployment rate is closer to 20%...maybe even over 20%.