We’re told that a big factor in the unbelievable improvement in last month’s unemployment rate is the results obtained in a spot survey of households that revealed dramatic increases in part-time and work-from-home jobs. So I’m visualizing how this survey may have gone:
Ring … ring … ring
Guy: Hello.
BLS: Hello, this is the Bureau of Labor Statistics and we are doing an unemployment survey.
Guy: I’m unemployed.
BLS: Not so fast. I have some questions to ask.
Guy: OK.
BLS: Did you do any work at all this past month?
Guy: Nope.
BLS: Uh, let me get more specific. Did you, for example, have any babysitting jobs?
Guy: Nope.
BLS: Did you mow the lawn of a neighbor or a friend?
Guy: Nope.
BLS: Did you go to any fitness classes?
Guy: Nope. We’re living on food stamps – can’t afford fitness classes.
BLS: Well, did you jog?
Guy: Nope.
BLS: Let’s see . . . did you hold a garage sale?
Guy: Yup. We sold our bedroom furniture.
BLS: You did? Hey, that counts! Guess what, you’re employed!
Guy: How’s that?
BLS: Yes. You held a garage sale. That’s work. So you’re employed.
Guy: Cool.
Reference: Obama allows new work requirements to qualify for welfare assistance: massage, exercise, journaling, motivational reading, smoking cessation, weight loss promotion, participation in parent-teacher meetings, or helping friends or family with household tasks and errands all qualify as work.
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