November Jobs Bikini Graph

[Tx4obama]

November Jobs Report
December 2, 2011

Today, the Department of Labor reported that the economy gained 120,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate fell to 8.6%–-the lowest rate since 2009:





Private businesses added 140,000 new employees last month–marking the 21st consecutive month of private sector job growth:



SNIP

http://www.democraticleader.gov/blog/?p=4640


Obama 2012 :)

[eridani]

1. Has anyone bothered to look at the total area above and below the zero line?

What that reveals is a major ongoing disaster, which none of the panglossian simpletons seems to care about.

[Tx4obama]

2. Huh?

How can you look at the two charts and NOT see total area above and below the zero line?
I guess I do not understand what you're trying to say :shrug:

And I do not consider it an 'ongoing disaster' since almost every month for the past two years on the charts indicates an improvement.

[eridani]

3. I'm saying that the total of the areas under the line is vastly larger than--

--total of the areas above the line.

That means we have an ongoing disaster that no one in DC (with very few exceptions) gives a bloody goddam about. What we are on track for is the only 20 year period in our history with ZERO NET JOB GROWTH! The bikini chart does NOT take into account growth of the labor force, which averages 125K-150K/month. That means that the panglossian drooling over 140K jobs ignores the fact that there was very, very little net job gain is highly inappropriate.

[secondwind]

4. Boomers wlll be retiring in droves, won't they?

[eridani]

5. Yes, but many are delaying retirement because of the destruction of their savings

Besides which, retirees are NOT included in unemployment figures.

[DCBob]

7. Of couse its more.. that why we have near 9% unemployment.

The reason to be optimistic is that the trends are going in the right direction. Of course we all wish it was faster recovery but the 2008 crash was a major blow to our economy and its simply taking a long time to recover from it. The Bush economy with high employment was based on a bogus housing boom and "ponzi-style" investment scheme. That faux wealth may never come back.

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. Exactly. "Yay! We slowed the rate at which the house is burning down!" n/t

[joshcryer]

14. More like "We put the fire out, but it's still smouldering, so we need to do an all-nighter."

Last thing you want is a GOP President and Congress to flare it up again.

[lumberjack_jeff]

15. Each child born has less chance of employment than his older siblings.

The fire is not yet out.

[joshcryer]

16. You can project 18 years based on a year of trend?

Nice. Can I have your methods?

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. We have 12 years of history. nt

[Skittles]

18. same with the salaries

MUCH LARGER below the line than above the line :(

[BadgerKid]

6. Good point.

I speak math. The suggested trend is that jobs are being created consistently. Combine that with an eyeball estimate of the area under the curve. It appears that the jobs lost in 2008-2009 could be restored in about four years. So painful.....

It's otherwise seemed to me we will see nothing new for all of the presidential year that is 2012. The graph indicates there could be a 6 month delay until a shift in policy takes effect. So I guess without major policies being passed, things are going to just limp along until mid-2013 with things improving slowly through 2016.

I wonder what a Dem. congress with Obama as president could do.

[Beacool]

9. The 315,000 people who dropped from the labor force contributed to the drop.

In fact, if the economy was truly improving, the unemployment rate would ironically be higher because there would be more people actively looking for work.

The Friday report is a mixed bag at best.

[MjolnirTime]

12. progress isn't enough, you want it all back immediately.

Can't you accept that part of what existed was phantom?
Built on false numbers that led to collapse.

All those construction jobs for building homes we don't need and can't afford aren't coming back.
That is a good thing because it allows us to see where we really stand.

[eridani]

20. Progress in the face of ongoing disaster is obviously not enough

We need the massive government intervention which Obama does not believe in and refuses to consider.

[Sheepshank]

8. The chart is nothing more and nothing less than a clear and concise

depiction of jobs lost and jobs gained.

And simply told, the USA is NO LONGER losing 100,000's of jobs each month for several consecutive months.

5 years ago, there were just as many students entering the market as there are today...so, why the bitch that it doesn't take that scenario into consideration?

To imply the OP or anyone else refering to this chart, is promoting anything but a snapshot of improvments in the area of jobs lost and jobs gained is a poor attempt at melodramatic falling on our swords syndrome....I'm frankly getting sick of the doom and gloom that surrpunds positive news. I guess it just doesn't sell papers or promote the "give up and feel hopeless" agenda.

[eridani]

21. The doom and gloom is real life

The drooling panglossian simplemindedness is an utter refusal to recognize the necessity of massive government intervention in the economy NOW>

[Number23]

22. Such as?

massive government intervention in the economy

And your use of the word "panglossian" reads like someone trying really hard to sound really smart.

[eridani]

23. Such as much higher taxes on the 0.1%

--and WPA and CCC employment programs.

[Number23]

25. ...

'Obama announces debt plan built on taxes on rich'
In a blunt rejoinder to congressional Republicans, President Barack Obama called for $1.5 trillion in new taxes Monday, part of a total 10-year deficit reduction package totaling more than $3 trillion. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44578820/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-announces-debt-plan-built-taxes-rich/#.Ttr1dvJ5fFE

2008 - President-elect Barack Obama promised Saturday to create the largest public works construction program since the inception of the interstate highway system a half century ago as he seeks to put together a plan to resuscitate the reeling economy. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/us/politics/07radio.html?pagewanted=all

2011 - The U.S. Senate has rejected President Barack Obama's plan to jump-start U.S. job creation through a combination of tax incentives and public works programs. In a procedural vote, the plan got no Republican backing and was opposed by three senators of the president's own Democratic Party. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Obama-Done-Waiting-on-Lawmakers-on-Jobs-131536813.html

[eridani]

27. Obama totally wasted the stimulus with too many tax cuts.

He refused to use his bully pulpit to promote public goods--instead he says that the government should NOT be the employer of last resort.

[Number23]

29. LOL Thanks for that. Exactly what I was expecing from you

I could have posted your response for you. You specifically mentioned several demands you wanted from the president, I respond with news articles that show that he has done almost exactly what you demanded and that it was thwarted by Congress.

You then chirp up with the usual response from the clueless about the "bully pulpit." Like I said, I could have written your response for you.

[eridani]

30. He has done none of those things--just called for them

And that's a good start. However, he won't go after the 1%, and is far too conciliatory towards the Republicans who make sure that he can't do them.

[Number23]

31. He has done ALL that he can do is president.

As president, ALL he can do is "call for" these types of policies. They have been rejected by the people who actually ARE authorized to implement those changes -- Congress.

However, he won't go after the 1%, and is far too conciliatory towards the Republicans who make sure that he can't do them.

Absolute rubbish. Utter nonsense.

[eridani]

32. When did FDR ever brag that the New Deal included lots of Republican ideas?

Or state that the economy should not count on any government intervention to kick start it.

[Number23]

33. Do yourself a favor. Get off of DU (for GOD'S SAKE) and read a newspaper and history book

In that order.

[greymattermom]

10. Boomers aged 62 and over

are likely among those who have left the job market. They can take early Social Security when unemployment runs out. At that age it's hard to find a new job. They'll be doing odd jobs for cash, taking care of grandkids, tutoring, etc.

[joshcryer]

13. Yep, 1.4 million in the last year alone.

I think we need another year or two to see how things pan out (by then we'll be getting boomers at around 3 million a year, and rising).

[DCBob]

17. I think most boomers are taking early retirement at 62 and I think that trend is going to continue.

Many dont want to wait the extra 4 years to 66 even though their monthly would be much higher. I wonder how this going to impact SS long term.

[bertman]

24. I'm a boomer who could retire right now EXCEPT that my 'portfolio' is a bit weak

at the moment, so I'll be working my ass off so I don't have to live off of catfood for the rest of my life once I DO retire.

Somehow your thinking that 'most boomers are taking early retirement at 62' seems unfounded based on the reality of my experiences with other boomers who are my age or even older. But, we all know that statistics never lie, so there ya go.

[DCBob]

26. Here an article from LA Times discussing the issue.

May 24, 2009| WASHINGTON — Instead of seeing older workers staying on the job longer as the economy has worsened, the Social Security system is reporting a major surge in early retirement claims that could have implications for the financial security of millions of baby boomers.

Since the current federal fiscal year began Oct. 1, claims have been running 25% ahead of last year, compared with the 15% increase that had been projected as the post-World War II generation reaches eligibility for early retirement, according to Stephen C. Goss, chief actuary for the Social Security Administration.

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/24/nation/na-retirement24

This article is a bit dated but I think these same trends are happening now.

[bertman]

28. Thanks, Bob. I'll read it when I get a few minutes.