Re: 94!

The dictionary definition is meaningless, it is a broad word. The 
unemployment rate, which is computed monthly in 60,000 households by US 
Dept. of Labor, uses a different definition. You are only considered 
"unemployed" if you have NO job (no income) and are actively seeking 
work. If you do not have a job (following layoff, etc.,.) and are no 
longer actively seeking work (living of spouses income, disability, 
savings, have given up, etc.,.) you are NOT considered unemployed.

The problem with that is that it leaves out some people: marginally 
employed (students and homemakers who don't need full income yet), 
discouraged workers (people who have given up on finding work and 
decide to find another way to live... off other people), and partially 
employed (this is a biggie and effects a lot of tech people... if you 
have any part-time income you are considered employed).

The last one there is the big one. A lot of tech people lost full-time 
positions, cannot find a new one, and so to make ends meat have taken 
up odd jobs. Few hours of consulting here and there, part-time work.

So when the govt. says were doing fine since the unemployment rate is 
dropping, there full of crap!

-john

On Apr 5, 2004, at 1:18 PM, [email protected] wrote:

> Looks to be pretty well defined... Doesn't look like the U.S. 
> understanding of
> the word deviates from the real meaning.