Part-timers might account for labor-force surge

[GURPS]

Part-timers might account for labor-force surge


The number of able-bodied Americans entering the labor force has surged since last fall. But in a marked change from earlier in the recovery, more of them are finding jobs right away instead of just looking for work.

What’s going on? It’s hard to say for sure, but circumstantial evidence in the latest U.S. jobs report suggests many of these newly employed workers have found part-time work with mediocre pay.

The participation rate hit a two-year high of 63% in March, climbing from a 38-year low of 64.4% in September, the government said Friday. A person is considered part of the labor force if he finds or job or is actively searching for one.


U.S. Lost 29,000 Manufacturing Jobs in March—But Gained in Retail, Food Services and Drinking Places


93,482,000 Americans Out of Labor Force in March


The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 93,482,000 Americans were neither employed nor had made an effort to find employment in March.

March’s non-participation level continues a multi-month trend of decline after the number of people out of the workforce hit a record high of 94,610,000 in October — declining another 206,000 compared to February.

While the number of people out of the workforce declined in March, 292,000 more people were out of the work force compared to March 2015.

 

[Larry Gude]

And again, we have no starvation, no destitution, no massive soup kitchen lines, no poorly clothed masses, no people huddles in shacks, freezing to death. No mass poverty related health problems. How can this be?

Well, to make the point, again, we are incredibly successful and productivity and innovation have made it possible so that MOST of us do not need to work AND anyone who WANTS to work is fighting that productivity, innovation and the over supply of labor means very poor wages. And, again, we need no concern ourselves with individuals. The better, stronger, smarter, more determined WILL find a way to succeed. This is about the mass, the 94 million.

We HAVE to face the growing reality that, more and more, there will be less and less need for work. As the rest of the world continues to advance this will only get worse and accelerate. We have to face this and start figuring out what to do on a macro economic basis sooner rather than later.

 

[tommyjo]

Standard comments on Gurps CNS"news" and Brietbart. They are misleading and unworthy of further comment. Essentially GURPs really isn't worth the time to comment on...but since others might believe the sh!t he posts...here is the actual info.

Regarding Marketwatch: Here is the Household Survey to which Marketwatch so resoundingly misrepresents. (Why else would Gurps post it anyway?)

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.a.htm

There are significantly fewer people working "part time for economic reasons" in March of 2016 vs March of 2015. People working part time for economic reasons are folks who want full time but can't find it. The drop in this category is statistically relevant and a positive change.

There are more people working part time for non-economic reasons today than there were a year ago. Translated this means these folks WANT to work part time. Students, those gradually entering retirement, parents with kids at home. That more people can find the hours/work they want is also a positive.

There are 2.4 million more people in the labor force today than 1 year ago. Yet there are only a total of 104,000 more people employed part time over the same period. The number of discouraged workers and the number of marginally attached workers is also down from 1 year ago.

This was another solid report.

BTW...I notice you didn't mention the ISM Manufacturing report that also came out this morning. You just can't post anything positive can you?

 

[Gilligan]

You just can't post anything positive can you?