Discuss some factors that may have affected the U.S. unemployment rate in recent months.

The purpose of this discussion board is to provide you with a forum to discuss your newly discovered economic concepts in light of current issues and real world situations with others in the class. In essence, it is a practice ground for ensuring that your economic reasoning and foundation are secure. This portion of the course requires you to interact with your fellow classmates. Please address these discussion questions below. Make sure to analyze the questions using an “economic perspective.” In other words, utilize economics vocabulary in each of your posts.  Respond to at least three classmates’ posts. Remember that content matters. You need to write more than “Great Job” or “I agree with you” to get full credit on your discussion responses.

Employment Situation Summary

Website: www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm (Links to an external site.)

Review the most recently reported U.S. unemployment data at the Employment Situation Bureau of Labor Statistics Web Site.

What is the unemployment rate for the current month and how has it changed from previous months? Select a specific profile of a person (it could be you!). For example, specify an age, gender, marital status, education level, work status – e.g. working part-time, marginally attached. Also specify the industry (e.g. healthcare, education, etc). What unemployment rates are reported for this individual? Is the unemployment rate for this individual higher or lower than the national average? Why do you think so?

Local Area Unemployment Statistics

Website: http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm (Links to an external site.)

Also, visit the following website that ranks unemployment data by State.

Specify a State that this individual may live in. What is the unemployment rate for that State? How does it compare to the average unemployment rate for the U.S.? What factors may be responsible for the disparity?

Discuss some factors that may have affected the U.S. unemployment rate in recent months.