Changes

[[Image:U-2009-2.jpg|thumb|275px|left]]

[[Image:U-2009-2.jpg|thumb|275px|left]]

After reaching a low of 4.1% in October, 2006, the U.S. [[unemployment]] rate has been trending upward, reaching 8.5% in March 2009.  

After reaching a low of 4.1% in October, 2006, the U.S. [[unemployment]] rate has been trending upward, reaching 8.9% in April 2009.  

Some people think that to get figures on unemployment the Government uses the number of persons filing claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under State or Federal Government programs. But some people are still jobless when their benefits run out, and many more are not eligible at all or delay or never apply for benefits. So the Government conducts a monthly sample survey called the Current Population Survey (CPS) to measure the extent of unemployment in the country. The CPS has been conducted in the United States every month since 1940 when it began as a Work Projects Administration project. [http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm]  

Some people think that to get figures on unemployment the Government uses the number of persons filing claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under State or Federal Government programs. But some people are still jobless when their benefits run out, and many more are not eligible at all or delay or never apply for benefits. So the Government conducts a monthly sample survey called the Current Population Survey (CPS) to measure the extent of unemployment in the country. The CPS has been conducted in the United States every month since 1940 when it began as a Work Projects Administration project. [http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm]  

'''Structural''' unemployment means a mis-match of jobs and workers. For example, there may be jobs in the cities and unemployment in mining or logging areas, but people are reluctant to move because of family ties.  There may be jobs available in some fields but people who are unemployed lack the necessary skills. This is a structural problem solved by migration, job training and education. Some structural unemployment is caused by policies such as the [[minimum wage]].

'''Structural''' unemployment means a mis-match of jobs and workers. For example, there may be jobs in the cities and unemployment in mining or logging areas, but people are reluctant to move because of family ties.  There may be jobs available in some fields but people who are unemployed lack the necessary skills. This is a structural problem solved by migration, job training and education. Some structural unemployment is caused by policies such as the [[minimum wage]].

Finally--and most serious--is '''cyclic unemployment''' (as in [[Recession of 2008|2008-2009]] and the [[Great Depression]]), when the whole economy is sagging and businesses lay off tens of thousands of workers every day. A few new jobs are created every month but they are overwhelmed by the jobs that are lost.  In February 2009, the U.S. economy lost 651,000 jobs net (that is, jobs that disappeared outnumbered jobs that were created by 641,000). Over 4.4 million jobs were lost in 2008-9.

Finally--and most serious--is '''cyclic unemployment''' (as in [[Recession of 2008|2008-2009]] and the [[Great Depression]]), when the whole economy is sagging and businesses lay off tens of thousands of workers every day. A few new jobs are created every month but they are overwhelmed by the jobs that are lost.  In February 2009, the U.S. economy lost 651,000 jobs net (that is, jobs that disappeared outnumbered jobs that were created by 641,000). Through April 30, 2009, about 5.7 million jobs were lost in 2008-9.

[[Image:Jobs09q1.jpg|thumb|250px]] [[Image:Job-loss-09.jpg|thumb|250px|US job losses January 1-March 31, 2009]]

[[File:Un-0409.jpg|thumb|250px|update for April 2009]] [[Image:Job-loss-09.jpg|thumb|250px|US job losses January 1-March 31, 2009]]

At election time, unemployment is often portrayed as a great evil, but [[Milton Friedman]] said,

At election time, unemployment is often portrayed as a great evil, but [[Milton Friedman]] said,