The unemployment rate held steady at 10 percent for the month of December – but only because more people dropped out of the workforce.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports the economy shed 85,000 jobs last month. But, had 661,000 people – discouraged by the downward economy – not given up looking for work, the jobless rate would have been 10.4 percent.
Throw in part-time workers who would prefer a full-time position but can’t find one, and the unemployment rate soars to 17.3 percent.
“The need for jobs in this country becomes clearer with each turn of the calendar month,” says IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “While the unemployment rate appears to be dropping, the truth is the only thing that’s really dropping is the confidence of the American people that they’ll soon get back to work.
“Millions of Americans are withering away while folks in Washington sit on their hands. What we need is less policy debate and more immediate action to stimulate the economy and create JOBS Now!”
Wed. January 13, 2010
As a former machinist and certified Toolmaker, as opposed to whatever you think your organization is comprised of, I find your advocacy of more and more government programs and spending is laughable. If you were really serious about creating manufacturing jobs, you\'d realize that what we need is less goverment interference, not more. Our free market could create jobs if Washington would give tax cuts to small businesses and roll back the oppressive environmental regulations that keep us from being competitive in the world market. Your grasp of free market capitalism is a joke. One more thing: do you think that our new \"manufacturing czar\" can sharpen a drill by hand? If he can\'t, what use is he and why are our tax dollars wasted on somebody who isn\'t qualified for the job?Wed. January 13, 2010
Didn\'t you guys help vote the Dems into power? Good luck on the health care taxes you\'ll be paying. Nothing dumber then putting people in office who want to cut your throat. LOL!