Unit 2: Introduction to Macroeconomics

Lesson 9a: Unemployment (UE)

Something Interesting - Why are we studying this?

 

205,000 jobs created in March, 2016, but the unemployment rate increases. WHY?.

"The American economy continues its march upward. The monthly jobs report released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the economy created 215,000 jobs in March, slightly higher than the 205,000 expected. The unemployment rate ticked up to 5 percent from 4.9 percent. U.S. job growth has continued for a record 73 months in a row."

The Huffington Post 04/01/2016 09:58 am ET.

How can there be both more jobs and more unemployment ?

This news article linked below also says: "the increase in the unemployment rate is actually a good thing". How can that be?

Read the first five paragraphs of the article linked below to find out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/march-jobs-report_us_56fe6c5de4b0a06d58056916

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Most economists will say that when the U.S. economy achieves an UE rate of about 5%, then we have achieved full employment. Five percent unemployment in the U.S. is about eight million people unemployed and THAT is full employment. How can that be?

Who is counted when they calculate the unemployment rate? And who is not counted?

Watch the short YouTube video linked below.

The Unemployment Game Show: Are You *Really* Unemployed? from Mint.com 2:10

 

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Lesson 9a