Am I unemployed? Are you? You’d think a person would know if she had a job or not, but the answer turns out to not be so simple. Officially, the U.S. unemployment rate has dropped to 8.9% . I have a sneaking suspicion that I am counted as one of the “employed” for February. I worked exactly one hour last month. I worked four hours in January so I suppose I was “employed” then too. In December, I’m pretty sure I was “unemployed” since I didn’t work at all. Maybe not though since I am not actively seeking full time work so may be considered “not in the work force.” I want to work part time and have several employers who occasionally give me a call to fill in. I’d like to work a lot more hours. I keep my ear open for possibilities. I really could use the money. But do I fit the official definition?
It seems like half my friends and relatives are working less than they want. It is not just my young shirt-tail relative who is working 25 hours at KFC when he really needs a full time job. My son-in-law is traveling nearly 80 miles each way to teach part time after his local school district cut the full time position he had. Obviously he is working. I have three friends with PhDs who teach part time at the college level, forever teased with that chance at a full time position that never seems to materialize. Their problem is not lack of education. And what are they complaining about? They are making more than the kid at KFC.
Who writes the rules that decide if I am “employed” or “unemployed” or “not in the labor force”? Does this statistic so confidently quoted in the news really mean anything? I don’t think so. Your comments are appreciated.