Unemployment counts

I'm sorry I didn't see this topic sooner, it is a good one. You are correct maildumpster, the unemployment figures are very skewed. You already mentioned how you can only receive benefits for 6 months before you are no longer counted. The vast majority of unemployed folks however don't qualify or file for unemployment at all. During my entire working life (and I've been out of work a lot) I have never filed or qualified for unemployment. If you leave a job voluntarily, or are fired with cause you can't even apply, and are therefore again not counted. Many people leaving jobs "at will" are really being given the options of quitting or getting fired. There is one other major thing that effects unemployment that is not taken into consideration either. That would be underemployment. These are the people who are working in low wage jobs with little or no benefits, working part time, or actually holding 2 or more low wage part-time jobs to try and survive. Those underemployed people are considered "gainfully employed." Sadly enough there is a growing gap in the job market. There *is* a war on the middle class going on. The middle of the road jobs that used to pay well have gone overseas in favor of cheaper labor. That leaves many with either the underemployed option, or the minority in egregiously high paying jobs such as upper management positions. I think we are far worse, and the unemployment and underemployment statistics are much higher than most people think or would like to believe. When Rome waged its war on the middle class is when the empire declined and fell. Historically we are following in their footsteps far more closely than I'd like to admit. Great topic.

it is sad to know how this problem has been gripping your country, too. people have now looked to having jobs in some companies as the primary source of income. the hard days have set in. it may be good to really bring out the true numbers of the unemployed. it might open up the eyes of the authorities as to how huge the numbers truly are. they might come up with programs and projects to be able to adress the problem squarely. now, we all know that this is not that easy to tackle with. but at least, it iwll be such consolation to note that something is being done somehow.