Read the following AP semi-fawning, fully-in-pr-mode, stenographer-for-Gibbs-talking-points article on the November jobs report. Only lost 11,000 jobs?! Rate down to 10%?! Best this year?! Just consider what happens in November every year: holiday workers get hired--temporary jobs but lots of them. So, even with that hiring, no jobs gained, just not many lost. Wanna guess what happens in January? What'll be the spin then?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091204/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_economy
Now, for a little reality check, read the following analysis of what will, WILL, keep employment in the doldrums for the foreseeable future:
Wachovia’s John Silvia:
In recent years, permanent layoffs have surpassed temporary layoffs and this is reflected in the rapid rise in the mean duration of unemployment. In addition, the disparity of unemployment by education levels signals that the demand of employers for more highly educated workers does not fit well with the available supply of workers. Current policy initiatives have perverse economic effects. Health care mandates will likely raise the cost of labor and thereby discourage hiring.
Second, the increase in the minimum wage has clearly negatively impacted hiring teenage workers evident in the recent increase in teenage unemployment rates. Cap-and-trade will likely increase the cost of energy and transportation for employers and thereby reduce any funds left to hire workers. At present, the uncertainty about potential micro policies is more than offsetting any positive impact on jobs from the fiscal stimulus.
http://blogs.reuters.com/james-pethokoukis/2009/11/30/why-the-us-may-have-a-long-term-unemployment-problem/
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