The unemployment rate at this time is 9.7 percent. This number is derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor each month. Each month, the Current Population Survey measures the amount of people in the workforce who are unemployed. They do not count every single household, but rather, they take a sample of 60,000 households that represent most of the population. Every month people are interviewed in a different sample of 60,000 households.
There are three types of people: the employed, the unemployed, and the people not in the work force. The survey covers those who are in the work force, but happen to be unemployed at the time. Everyone who is counted must be 16 years of age or older. People are still counted as employed if they are out sick, were on vacation, having child-care problems, prevented from working due to bad weather, on maternity leave, or taking care of a family member. People counted as unemployed do not have a job or are currently looking for a job by sending out resumes or making connections. The questions on the survey are very specific in order to obtain the most accurate information.
For more up-to-date stats on the unemployment rate check out publications like Employment & Earnings, and Monthly Labor Review. Use this opportunity to discover new skills and talents or find a new career path. Go back to school and get in education in another area or subject. And try to stay positive about opportunities that may come your way. Unemployment.com will give you all the information you will need, so you can nudge the employment rate up a bit when you land your next job.
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