What do you considered unemployed?

Canada
January 7, 2012 5:34pm CST
When someone mentions unemployment I think of people who can work but don't have a job and aren't retired. The Bureau of Labour Statistics says unemployment is "Persons are classified as unemployed if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work" http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#nilf They report this as the U-3 measure which is what everybody reads on the headlines. The U-6 on the other hand is everyone who has basically given up looking for employment because of "economic reasons". The U-3 says that 8.5% is the unemployment rate The U-6 says that 15.2% is the real unemployment rate http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t15.htm What are your thoughts on this and unemployment in general?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@chillpill90 (1936)
8 Jan 12
I think that unemployed can be used to include members of the public with no job or income, so the retired, those on benefits. People like myself are classed as unemployed even though I bust my gut everyday looking for a job but after 6 months I have not found one of yet. Basically I consider unemployment people who do not have a means of making money full or part time.
• Canada
8 Jan 12
I don't think the people who are retired should be considered unemployed because they might not want to be looking for work. If someone is retired but still looking for a job then they should be considered unemployed.
• United States
6 Mar 12
I agree. There are many who have given up because there is nothing that will meet their needs but unemployment pays better than most jobs out there. I do think the second rate is more accurate if you include people who also no longer are able to receive benefits.
• Canada
9 Jan 12
I would have to say unemployed means you are not working and are not making an income. I unfortunatly do have a job and only work part time so im not unemployed...just broke.