RNC Research

There Are Still Currently More Than Four Million More Unemployed Americans Than When The Recession Began In December 2007.  “The recession ended four years ago. But for many job seekers, it hasn’t felt like much of a recovery. Nearly 12 million Americans were unemployed in May, down from a peak of more than 15 million, but still more than four million higher than when the recession began in December 2007.” (Ben Casselman, “Some Unemployed Keep Losing Ground,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/24/13)

“The Share Of The Population That Is Working Or Looking For Work Stands Near A Three-Decade Low.” “Millions more have given up looking for work and no longer count as unemployed. The share of the population that is working or looking for work stands near a three-decade low.” (Ben Casselman, “Some Unemployed Keep Losing Ground,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/24/13)

“Economic Growth Has Been Far Too Slow To Spur Much Job Growth.” “But most economists say the main reason is simple: Economic growth has been far too slow to spur much job growth.” (Ben Casselman, “Some Unemployed Keep Losing Ground,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/24/13)

Joe Carbone, President Of A Workforce Development Agency That Assists The Long-Term Unemployed, Says “We Are Losing Thousands Of People A Day. This Is Like An Epidemic.” “‘Once people reach a point where they no longer consider themselves employable…it is very difficult to pull them back,’ said Joe Carbone, president of WorkPlace, a Connecticut workforce-development agency that has developed a program targeting the long-term unemployed. ‘We are losing thousands of people a day. This is like an epidemic.’” (Ben Casselman, “Some Unemployed Keep Losing Ground,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/24/13)

The Epidemic Of Long-Term Unemployed Workers Threatens To “Create A Class Of Permanently Unemployed Workers And Leave Lasting Scars On The Economy.” “But long-term job seekers are twice as likely to leave the labor market as to find jobs, and many experts worry that many of them will never return to work. That could create a class of permanently unemployed workers and leave lasting scars on the economy.” (Ben Casselman, “Some Unemployed Keep Losing Ground,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/24/13)