| The country
added only 21,000 jobs last month, much worse than expected. As has been discussed here before,
the structure of the employed is changing; more uncounted contractors and self-employed workers make a good living now than ever before. These
individuals show up as either unemployed or as those who have "given up on finding employment and left the work force" - that's how the media likes to portray
them.
It was, and continues to be, my hope that the traditional measure of the work force will eventually realize the jobs America is currently
producing. So far, it has not. We need to have a better way to determine the number of jobs in this country that fits the actual situation.
I'm not holding my breath for the media to begin touting such a measure. That would make Bush and his policies look good. So, we'll just
have to hope venues like this can get the message out until the traditional, inaccurate measure catches up. Nevertheless, John Kerry's camp must be
smiling this morning at all this bad news.
posted by Scott Elliott at 10:35am 03/05/04 ::
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