BLS data purports to show that 873,000 Americans got new jobs in September. Does anyone really believe that?
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Conn Carroll (@conncarroll) October 05, 2012The Left is breathlessly celebrating today’s jobs report that indicates that “total employment” rose 873,000 and unemployment fell to 7.8 percent.
And here is your October Surprise: lousy jobs numbers, but U drop to 7.8% Let the MSM Obagasms begin!—
Charles Sykes (@SykesCharlie) October 05, 2012
873,000 more people employed in the household survey in September than in August. This is HUGE news. #AdvantageObama—
(@utaustinliberal) October 05, 2012
Expected spin based on language in past White House statements:
New spin from Obama administration: "It's important to read too much into one month's jobs report."—
(@jimgeraghty) October 05, 2012
But what’s really going on here? Some Twitterers argue that most of the 873,000 are employed doing part-time work.
Of the 873,000 jobs added… 600,000 are part-time jobs.—
Justin Hart (@justin_hart) October 05, 2012
So blacks, Hispanics, teens are not finding jobs and 67% of all the people with new jobs are part-time. Is that progress?—
Justin Hart (@justin_hart) October 05, 2012
@EdMorrissey "Total multiple jobholders" increased 183,000 in one month. (Table A-16, Aug. vs. Sept.)—
Jeryl Bier (@SpeakWithAuthor) October 05, 2012
Additionally, the broader U-6 measurement of unemployment remains unchanged at a whopping 14.7 percent.
The broader U-6 rate is unchanged at 14.7%—
James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) October 05, 2012
That paints a much bleaker picture than the context-free numbers being bandied about.
Incredible. And not in a good way. RT @justin_hart: Of the 873,000 jobs added… 600,000 are part-time jobs.—
Glen Asbury (@glenasbury) October 05, 2012
Wreckovery!!! “@justin_hart: Of the 873,000 jobs added… 600,000 are part-time jobs.” #CantAfford4More #nobama #teaparty #tcot—
(@EdwardMKE) October 05, 2012
So, a lot of this drop in unemployment was part-time jobs? Great recovery to go from the office to the drive-thru window.—
Matt Cover (@MattCover) October 05, 2012
How much of the part-time employment increase can be attributed to political campaigns? (h/t @AndreaBitely)—
Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) October 05, 2012
More of that pesky context from AEI’s Jim Pethokoukis:
10.7%: Unemployment rate if labor force participation rate was the same as when Obama took office—
James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) October 05, 2012
5.6%: Unemployment Obama White predicted for September 2012 if Congress passed stimulus—
James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) October 05, 2012
"The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons rose from 8.0 million in August
to 8.6 million in September"—
James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) October 05, 2012
114,000 jobs a month is a pretty good number … for 1962. We need 2-3x that to close jobs gap—
James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) October 05, 2012
At a 114,000 jobs a month, jobs gap won't close until after 2025—
James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) October 05, 2012
If labor force participation had just stayed steady all year, jobless rate would 8.4% vs. 8.3% in January. Progress?—
James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) October 05, 2012
Doing fine? Obama still isn’t working.