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is this correct? Question: Who is missing from the calculation…
is this correct?
Question:
Who is missing from the calculation of the unemployment rate? What does this mean in terms of who is out of work and who is counted as unemployed?
Examine the unemployment rate over time and across the states. Draw three conclusions from these statistics and share them with your classmates. What questions do these statistics raise for you? Offer one question a well-trained sociologist should ask about these statistics.
Answer:
Those not included in the calculation of the unemployment rate are those labeled NILF (not in the labor force). “Most NILF people in the United States are students without jobs, retirees, people who have chronic illnesses or disabilities, or homemakers” (Hodson, 2011). In addition to that, in order to not be eligible to be counted as part of the labor force, you must be under 16, an active duty member of the armed forces, or an individual who is institutionalized. “Employed people in the labor force are those who work in the week preceding the survey (1) worked at least one hour for pay or profit, (2) worked at least fifteen hours without pay in a family business, or (3) were temporarily not working because of illness, vacation, or similar reasons” (Hodson, 2011). If an individual is counted as unemployed, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have not been actively seeking jobs either, they may have even been temporarily laid off or waiting to report to a new job/position, and it honestly just depends on the time in which the survey is completed.
It appears at first glance that the Midwest area of the United States suffers the least wrath from the unemployment rate. This is to include states such as the Dakota’s, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa. Perhaps this is because of the level of work (blue collar or otherwise) associated with the demographic and the sheer volume and need for workers in a more laborious role than those located in other states. In drawing comparisons between men and women, aged 20 years and over, the unemployment rate between 2008 – 2011 was significantly higher for males, but it appears to have equalized from 2012 and on. I am very puzzled over the spike in unemployment for a brief period of time in 2020. Perhaps my timing is off and I apologize if this comes across as a no-brainer question and/or assessment, but could this be due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown phase? And if so, the drop in unemployment numbers immediately following are reminiscent of the initial roller coaster drop. Why is that?
