TOTALLY GEEKED!

The U3 which is the unemployment rate as in those collecting unemployment plus those who are no longer eligible but looking for work is 5.3%

The U6 which measures those the above plus those underemployed, meaning they work part time but want full time and those who have given up is 9.8 %.

The gap between U3 and U6 has never been that large. Very sad.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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I know what to do_sometimes wrote:

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I believe that includes all Americans, as in kids.

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 They do?  Well, show me where that is the case.

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 Can't,heard it on a financial analyst report radio show.  But do the math; 300M Americans and 100M out of work?  that has got to include minors.

This seems to be a comment to the article you read and explains it somewhat well in general terms but does not mentions retired people:
So first thing - always examine your source. CBN is the "Christian Broadcasting Network." It doesn't take a genius to figure out they have some kind of specific agenda in regards to this article.
Then let's look at the numbers.
The "Civilian Labor Force" is defined as individuals, age 16 or older, who are not institutionalized (mental hospital, inmates, etc.), are not active duty military, and either are employed with at least 15 hours per week or actively seeking work (aka unemployed). Those not seeking work at all, such as a college student, or a retired person, or a housewife, or unpaid volunteer work are not part of this group. This group is considered "people who could work" in the US.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, for August 2015, the "Civilian Labor Force" is 157,065,000 individuals. Of that 157M, 149M are currently employed, with 8M seeking work (aka Unemployed). (note, I'm not delving in to U1 through U6 to grade unemployment levels, as it's too complex for this discussion)
So how did this article come up with their "100M people not working" statistic? My guess is that they did some kind of gross oversimplification of taking the entire US population that's over age 16 (about 250M individuals), subtracting the number of employed individuals (149M) which left 100M.
It may not be totally incorrect that about 100M Americans over age 16 are not working, but it's a horrible misrepresentation of what that actually means. It does not mean that 100M Americans are suffering from rampant unemployment, or are lazy snake people (aka millennials), or are freeloaders on government cheese. It simply means that you need to understand of those 100M Americans, how many should be at a job that reports payroll numbers, and calculate from there - the actual number is quite a bit smaller, most likely only marginally greater than the unemployment statistics (and that's where learning about the BLS's U1 to U6 stats are helpful - they try to tease out data for underemployed individuals, or temps, or so called 'discouraged workers').
Ironically, the "Christian Broadcasting Network" probably would be quite upset if all of these 100M Americans were at work, earning a recorded paycheck, because it would mean no stay-at-home-moms for their 1950s Leave it to Beaver fantasies (all children would be latch-key kids - no exceptions), no retirement (just work until you die), or no individuals working for churches or other religious organizations at no pay, etc.

I think stats are fine as a general measure. But, I only have to look around to see how my friends, family, community and State is doing. It's obvious. Things are not good.

I think the stats don't even show the true reality of what people are living. There are a lot of people working reduced hours, cut back to part time and so forth who have lost benefits and are barely making it. But, they don't fit in those rolls.

You know it totally depends on where you live. Here, the unemployment rate is so low that it's an employee's market. It's so hard to find people to take positions -- everyone has a job already. We had a few positions open and it took forever to fill them. We just didn't get any applicants. In speaking with other businesses in the community and across the state - same for them as well. Lots of openings but no one applying.

We have a ton of out of work people here but can't find anyone to fill out vacancies. No one wants to work for a paycheck in this town. Welfare is easier.

Ohfour wrote:

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Mellow Momma wrote:

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You know it totally depends on where you live. Here, the unemployment rate is so low that it's an employee's market. It's so hard to find people to take positions -- everyone has a job already. We had a few positions open and it took forever to fill them. We just didn't get any applicants. In speaking with other businesses in the community and across the state - same for them as well. Lots of openings but no one applying.

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 Same here. Employers are begging for workers. And companies just keep moving here. 

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 Exactly.  There are jobs--maybe not in Detroit, or Gary, Indiana--but there are jobs out there.  

 

All the "good hands" have jobs.  The ones that don't either aren't looking very hard, don't have any skills, or have undesirable qualities for an employer such as prior felonies, poor work history, history of drug use, etc...

I agree, there are times when you simply have to be willing to move. But, it becomes very difficult. If you are in a depressed economy and own a home, then you may have difficulty selling it or taking a huge loss. And, also what it often happens that one spouse has a job. My spouse has a secure job, over 20+ years so moving for him would be more difficult and he is vested in the pension and so forth. I have a job and am doing fine but i don't see a lot of opportunity for my kids.