Shock employment figures: Fewer than 46% of Americans have jobs.

[Ponce]

Shock employment figures: Fewer than 46% of Americans have jobs.

By David Edwards
Thursday, April 14th, 2011 -- 1:44 pm

The percentage of Americans who have jobs has fallen to the lowest point in three decades and now hovers just above 45 percent of the total population, according to an analysis of labor data published by USA Today.

The report, based on figures provided by the Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed that at 36.7 percent, Mississippi had the lowest percentage of population working.

Employment rates were also low in California and Arizona, where just over 37 percent had jobs. At 55.8 percent, North Dakota had the highest rate of employed residents.

Overall, 45.4 percent of Americans were working, the lowest since 1983. Employment peaked at 49.3 percent in 2000.

"The bad economy, an aging population and a plateau in women working are contributing to changes that pose serious challenges for financing the nation's social programs," the paper noted.

The news comes at a time when Republican senators have unveiled a plan to raise the retirement age, which would force more Americans to search for jobs that just aren't there.

Freshman tea party-backed Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) -- along with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) -- have joined the call, seeking to raise the retirement age to 70 in the next 20 years.

"If you talk to young people in America - they've already accepted this," Paul said Wednesday.

USA Today featured an interactive chart showing every individual state's total employment figures.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/14/shock-employment-figures-fewer-than-half-of-americans-have-jobs/

[madfranks]

So that means the real unemployment rate is 55%? I don't know about that.

[Ash_Williams]

It includes people who wouldn't normally be working like toddlers and geezers. It's not an unemployment rate, more a "how many people are supporting how many other people" rate.

[SilverMagnet]

Don't worry about a thing. When the Chinese come over to take delivery on our debt, we will all have jobs.



http://jothijeyasingam.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/sweatshop.jpg



It might take a while to get a raise though..

[Ponce]

We had the time of the Romans, the time of the French, the time of the Americans and now it the turn of China........but still.......those behind the curtain will remain in command.

[osoab]

So only 46% of the total pop actually "works".

Now subtract out the number who work for some sort of taxing body or get your money by the point of the gun. Call it as you like it.

What do you have left?






Not a hell of a lot. >:(

[Twisted Titan]

The news comes at a time when Republican senators have unveiled a plan to raise the retirement age, which would force more Americans to search for jobs that just aren't there.

Freshman tea party-backed Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) -- along with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) -- have joined the call, seeking to raise the retirement age to 70 in the next 20 years.



Wonder how the tea baggers are feeling now???

[Son-of-Liberty]

So only 46% of the total pop actually "works".

Now subtract out the number who work for some sort of taxing body or get your money by the point of the gun. Call it as you like it.

What do you have left?






Not a hell of a lot. >:(


Could probably chop another 10-15% of the number so then you are left with 30% of the population that are actually productive being forced to support everyone else. It is only going to get worse as baby boomers reach retirement age as well. This economy is doomed.

[sirgonzo420]

The news comes at a time when Republican senators have unveiled a plan to raise the retirement age, which would force more Americans to search for jobs that just aren't there.

Freshman tea party-backed Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) -- along with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) -- have joined the call, seeking to raise the retirement age to 70 in the next 20 years.



Wonder how the tea baggers are feeling now???



You have a problem with them raising the retirement age?

Social security is a PONZI scheme. Lee and Paul are merely rearranging the rules so the participants in social security "play the game" a little longer.

If the retirement age *isn't* raised, then everyone will have to stop playing sooner.

I don't care either way.

Fuck social security.

[cthulu]

Don't worry about a thing. When the Chinese come over to take delivery on our debt, we will all have jobs.



http://jothijeyasingam.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/sweatshop.jpg



It might take a while to get a raise though..






yeah, right, I'd love to see an american work that hard in conditions like that. americans would have a heart attack just seeing the place.

[dys]

"The bad economy, an aging population and a plateau in women working are contributing to changes that pose serious challenges for financing the nation's social programs," the paper noted.

It's always the 'social programs' on the chopping block. Never the wars, the CIA, FEMA, Homeland Security, the FBI, the department of education, the department of transportation, etc...
Funny how social security is called a 'social program' when it is factually a forced investment program.

dys

[mick silver]

dys you just hit the nail on the head . if you worked you pay into social security . why not get what you pay for . i still dont hear them cutting the war machine funding or other stuff that needs a hair cut

[Neuro]

Of those 46%, probably about 15% works in government, 10% in financial services, 10% in disease scare, 5% MIC. Leaves about 4% actually working with something productive and useful, and 2% managers of those...

[gunDriller]

Of those 46%, probably about 15% works in government, 10% in financial services, 10% in disease scare, 5% MIC. Leaves about 4% actually working with something productive and useful, and 2% managers of those...


it's like the Roman Empire, Turbo-charged, on Steroids, with Nukes, iPods, and blazing fast computers.

[Neuro]

Of those 46%, probably about 15% works in government, 10% in financial services, 10% in disease scare, 5% MIC. Leaves about 4% actually working with something productive and useful, and 2% managers of those...


it's like the Roman Empire, Turbo-charged, on Steroids, with Nukes, iPods, and blazing fast computers.
;D I have a feeling this will have a good ending...

[Horn]

When did they add Puerto Rico as a state?

http://mindcheese.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/unemployment_feb_2011-992x1024.gif

[osoab]

So only 46% of the total pop actually "works".

Now subtract out the number who work for some sort of taxing body or get your money by the point of the gun. Call it as you like it.

What do you have left?






Not a hell of a lot. >:(


Could probably chop another 10-15% of the number so then you are left with 30% of the population that are actually productive being forced to support everyone else. It is only going to get worse as baby boomers reach retirement age as well. This economy is doomed.


50% of the workers are paid by taxing body of some sort. Now add in those business that are directly related to .gov regulations and spending.

Not much left after that. >:(

[horseshoe3]

In my case, 25% of my household works to support the other 75% who have no outside income. I have heard is said that it takes 3 workers to support 1 retiree on SS, so I guess that means I support 4.33 people. But wait, 50% of my earnings goes to taxes, so you can double my effect. I support 8.66 people.

In my little corner of the world 11.5% (me) supports 88.5% (my wife, kids and foster geezers/bureaucrats.) I imagine most have similar results.

[etc]

A lot more meaningful than the gov statistic about 8 or 9 percent or whatever.