Comments about ‘U.S. hiring slows sharply with just 115,000 jobs added’

What seems to be an ongoing issue with media outlets is they are ignoring the workforce participation rate. We are now at lows not seen since 1981. A half million people dropped out of the workforce leaving us with just 64.3% of the available workforce participating.

To look at it another way. The U-3 numbers show 11.6% unemployment which also lines up with the early 80’s numbers.

Bill Clinton's campaign slogan was "It's the economy stupid". Romney's strength happens to be Obama's weakness and it will cost him re-election in November.

Just curious, but how is the economy Mitt's strength, serious question. And not just because he sounds good, what has he accomplished that will translate to helping fix the Bush-Depression quicker than Obama has?

Was it his 47th ranked job creation record as Governor?

His "saving" of the Olympics?

Or his Gordon Gecko business background of firing people, ripping companies apart, and selling them?

Can someone explain to me (I'm being serious) how there were only that number of jobs, yet the unemployment fell? I would appreciate it.

"While the unemployment rate dipped — only because more Americans gave up looking for work — Obama is likely to face voters in November with the highest unemployment rate of any U.S. president since World War II. . . But last month's decline was not due to job growth. The government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively looking for work."

Wait, I thought the liberals were telling us that this was a lie made up by Republicans. Now an AP writer says it.

williary, I would attempt to answer your question, but it's no use. You have made up your mind and will not listen to reason about Mitt. This is obvious in your comments about job creation (Mass. didn't have a problem with job creation; the financial situation was the worry) and his business background. You make it sound as if he pirates business, when facts suggest that he actually made many, many businesses successful (what a scoundrel that guy is!).

You want to know what the problem with Mitt Romney is? Take a good, hard look in the mirror and you'll see the problem.

To TOO: The reason the unemployment rate fell from 8.2 to 8.1 percent is because over 300,000 additional people had their benefits end across the country. For example, in California when it's unemplyment rate fell to 11.1 percent last month that caused 99,000 people to loose a tier of Federal Benefits that came to an end. Subtract also those passing 99 weeks unemployed-benefits ended. The government and media tell you that people gave up looking. That's not true. Anyone who had benefits end is no longer counted as unemployed and looking. That number is around 6 million people by itself! Real unemployment is around 16.4 percent. Under employment is added to that. Also please take into consideration that 115,000 jobs does not cover the 150,000- to 225,000 people coming into the economy naturally( 16 year olds available to work - retirees). Here is the breakdown on the unemployment number: 115,000 jobs added- 150,000 new workers(low number used) equals negative 35,000 jobs created minus 300,000 off the roles equals a net loss of 335,000 jobs. That is why this number is no good!

To Williary:

Comment on your Gordon Gecho point of name calling: Here are facts from Annual
Reports(SEC Filed)and other direct source material on Bain Capital(Mitt Romney)involved
Company #Locations Revenue/Value Employees/Jobs

Staples 1575us 24.5 Billion 90,000
Dominos 9000 1.5 145,000
ToysR Us 1600 13.7 70,000
Guitar Center 223 1.8 10,000
Dunkin Brands 16000 7.7 260,000
Hopital Corp 275 32.0 168,000
HD Supply 680 13.0 14,000
Burger King 12000 2.5 39,000
AMC Theaters 5300 scrreens 2.5 21,000
Burlington CoatF 450 3.0 28,000
Michaels Arts-C 1180 4.0 13,000
Sports Authority 450 1.1 9,000

Bain Invested in these companies when they were smaller weaker or near or in bankruptcy. This totals 48,643 properties paying taxes, 112.8 billion in value and 867,000 jobs and represents 12 companies. Bain has interest in 111 others! Bain invests 66 Billion in private capital much from accounts held by retirees. These companies returned 10.7% average last year! Bain employes 900 people too. Millions of retirees and investors earn income from Bain's success including many wealthy democrats!

Re: williary Kearns, UT
"Just curious, but how is the economy Mitt's strength, serious question"

When Romney took over the 2002 Winter Games they were in trouble, over budget, and plagued with scandal. When the games were over and all the bills paid there was $100 million left in the bank. There are a lot of similarities between our country's current financial problems and those of the Olympic Games before Romney took over.

In order to keep up with population growth, labor economists estimate that anywhere from 125,000-250,000 jobs need to be added each month (estimates vary, obviously). These figures account for the number of people retiring and those entering the workforce.

Using the more conservative figure of 125,000, it is interesting to see our labor force shrink by 342,000 in the month of April. This amounts to our labor force having nearly a half a million (467,000) workers fewer than would be expected due to population growth.

This isn't good news.

Thank you don17. I almost can't believe that so many truly believe our economy is recovering, or that this is Bush's fault.

Kith: You are welcome!

It is also very important to realize that January 1, 2013 there will be 11 major tax increases to different tax rates. That includes the end of the so called Bush Tax Cuts. If these taxes are allowed to go up an additional 550,000,000,000 dollars will be taken out the Economy in taxes. That will drastically slow the United States economy as investment capital and jobs leave the United States. In addition, I'm aware of a company with 120 employees that will lay off 1/3 of its remaining staff due to the tax increases and the demands of Obamacare on the bottom line. One business and 40 less jobs! This should be the rallying cry of every American working in a Right to Work state or within a Union shop! Jobs are leaving and Administration failures are leading to the Great Job Fear in America! The Senate and Harry Reid need to be held responsible for not voting on 36 House bills passed(many passed in a bi partisan manner)that will help with jobs and the economy! Between Nov 2012 and March 2013 3 million jobs will disappear! Is our job one of them?

don17

Thank you so much, that was a great explanation. Thanks.

Don, the unemployment numbers does not use number of people using benefits as a measure. Your argument is based on bad math. For example, a "retired" senior citizen looking for work, who gets social security, is not eleigible for unemploymeent nenfits. the cause must be an unvaulentary loss of job to qualitfy. Retiring does not count.

My father is in his 70s and still works. If he were to decide to quit, he would not be counted on the benefits role. But if he wented to the state employment agency looking for anothe job, he would be counted as one seeking work.

Another firend of mine was a manufactures rep. His contract was terminated. Since he was not a W2 employee, he is ineligible for state unemployment. But he is still counted as one seeking work.

The connection you made, as compelling sounding as they ares, have nothing to do with how the unemployment numbers are actually derived. Let's not foregt at this point of the last administration, the econmuy was shedding nearly a 500,000 jobs a month.

Baby Boomers leaving the workford is a factor not to be ignored. Not good numbes, but nto a crises.

Again, as always, here's what I'm hearing:

Obama hasn't fixed things fast enough.

It wasn't Bush's fault the country fell into a near Depression.

Obama should be held to the same employment standards as everyone else, regardless of the fact that he inherited a near Depression.

The unemployment number is now a lie, it's actually much higher than the report number due to many factors. If that's your story, I guess the real rate was over 16.4% when Bush left, since the "incorrect" rate is now lower than it was then?

All we need to do to fix things, is do exactly what Bush did. Cut more taxes, including the corporate rate that is lower than it's been in decades. Less regulations. This will work this time around why?

Health care is great, no need to change anything.

Corporate tax rates, and deductions, are lower now than in decades, yet they will start higher again as soon as those rates are lowered. Old trickle down economics at work, still waiting for that to work.

Same old story lines. Nothing new to see here.

rE: UtahBlueDevil Durham, NC

The slogan for the 2012 Republican campaign is going to be "It's the economy stupid" and when voters go to the polls in November they aren't going to interested in excuses ...... or what the last administration did or didn't do.

To Blue Devil: With all due respect you are not understanding the math. I have stated that those coming into the work force minus those leaving the work force as retirees is the natural change in the new individuals available to be employed. That number goes up because those 16 annd over looking for a first job increases the total need for jobs. Those retiring has declined over the past few years as more people eligible to retire are having to work longer.

Part of the reason the economy was shedding jobs in 2008 fall was because many small businesses were cutting jobs in anticipation of the plans being proposed by soon to be President Obama including his health care plan. This uncertainty, demand in higher taxes for businesses and individuals in the middle to upper levels of the economy caused many to cut spending for employees, equipment, capital products ect... This trend has continued to now as uncertainty continues to dominate the policies trying to be implimented by the Obama administration.

This economy is failing even now! Net jobs, home sales , retail sales, durable goods sales and production are all down! Real earnings down. Total employment down to 63.3?%

Could it be possible that the biased news media and the Obama Administration are spinning the numbers to make Obama look good? Naw, they wouldn’t do that would they? Remember when Clinton was campaigning and unemployment was around 5.5% and the Democrats told us it was the worst economy in 50 years? I guess its like Ronald Reagan said, “Its not that liberals don’t know a lot, its just that what they know isn’t so.” The unemployment numbers the government is publishing isn’t so either! The honest numbers are much higher and everyone (except liberals) knows it because they don’t want to know it!

williary,

Your last comment is the exact reason I said that you have made up your mind already and will not ever change it. If that's what you're hearing, you need to get your ears checked.

"Health care is great, no need to change anything."

Find at least 2 people who said this. Give me names, quotes, and sources. It's simply another example of you twisting people's words (and putting words in their mouths).

Can you prove Bush caused the recession? How do you know it wasn't the Democrats who took the majority of the House in 2006 that was the cause? If it was Bush's fault, it would have happened much sooner than 2008, wouldn't it? If you are saying it takes about 7-8 years for a president's actions to take affect, then how can you claim that the recovery, as slow as it is, is because of Obama's actions? As for the slow economic recovery, you can't deny that it's slow. I dare you to tell us that the recovery is not at a sluggish pace!

You are losing credibility rapidly with every post you make.

For much of the past few years, the private sector has consistently added jobs while the public sector — state, local and federal government — has consistently cut jobs. The private sector in April created 130,000 jobs while government hacked another 15,000 jobs. The long-term trend is unavoidable and unmistakable. Since May 2010, government has reduced employment by 1.028 million. Since February 2010, the private sector has created 4.247 million jobs. The last time the government employed this few people was in June 2006. FYI: between January 2001 and January 2009, the government sector added 1.74 million jobs.

The February jobs total, originally reported as a 227,000 gain was revised to a gain of 240,000. Today, BLS revised the February total up again — to an increase of 259,000. The March figure, originally reported as a gain of 120,000, was revised sharply upward — to a gain of 154,000.

@williary

Give up the propaganda. The recession wasn't Bush's fault. Recessions happen. It's a cyclical thing. What caused the economic crisis in 2008? The housing bubble burst. That is the fault of both parties pushing home ownership. Clinton touted it and so did Bush and the political parties pressured banks to lend to those who weren't qualified to have a mortgage.

Then neither the Clinton or Bush administration's SEC did their duty to ensure financial firms didn't invest money into sub-prime mortgage backed securities. It has nothing to do with tax cuts. Reagan cut taxes drastically and the economy boomed.

At this point, the Obama administration has no idea how to spur the economy. They had 'shovel-ready' jobs that were supposed to spur the economy. It didn't work because governments don't grow economies.

Simple fact: things were better under Bush. Unemployment was an average of 5.5%. Obama has taken a downturn in the economy and just done everything wrong. His policies are old and have never worked. Romney will be the guy to fix this mess.