FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2009 10:17 AM
CONTACT: Americans for Democratic Action http://www.adaction.org/
David Card 202-785-5980


Real Unemployment at 15.8%: Highest Level Since ADA Began Tracking

WASHINGTON - May 8 - The real unemployment rate released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 15.8%, nearly 7 points higher than the rate officially reported.

The real rate includes marginally attached workers which the BLS reports “are neither working nor looking for work but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past. Discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached, have given a job-market related reason for not looking currently for a job. Persons employed part time for economic reasons are those who want and are available for full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule.â€