EconomicGreenfield

As I have commented previously, as in the October 30 post, in my opinion the official methodologies used to measure the various job loss and unemployment statistics do not provide an accurate depiction.

However, even if one chooses to look at the official statistics, the following charts provide an interesting (and disconcerting) long-term perspective of certain aspects of the officially-stated  employment situation.

The first two charts are from the St. Louis Fed site.  Here is the Median Duration of Unemployment:

(click on charts to enlarge images)

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over:

Lastly, a chart from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve site.  This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions (as characterized by severity):

As depicted by these charts, our unemployment problem is severe.  Unfortunately, there do not appear to be any “easy” solutions.

In July 2009 I wrote a series of five blog posts titled “Why Aren’t Companies Hiring?”, which discusses various aspects of the topic, many of which lack recognition.

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SPX at 1121.64 as this post is written

This post provides updated charts to the “Three Unemployment Charts” post of January 12.

As I have commented previously, most notably in an October 6 post, in my opinion the official methodologies used to measure the various job loss and unemployment statistics do not provide an accurate depiction.  However, I believe that the following charts provide an interesting perspective of the officially-stated  employment situation from a long-term historical perspective.

The first two charts are from the St. Louis Fed site.  Here is the Median Duration of Unemployment:

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over:

Lastly, a chart from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve site.  This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions (as characterized by severity):

As depicted by these charts, our unemployment problem is severe.  Unfortunately, there do not appear to be any “easy” solutions.

Back in July 2009 I wrote a series of blog posts titled “Why Aren’t Companies Hiring?”

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SPX at 1192.13 as this post is written

Occasionally, I have posted charts concerning unemployment.  With Friday’s unemployment release, here are three charts that I find noteworthy:

First, from the St. Louis Fed site, the Median Duration of Unemployment. 

Second, from the CalculatedRisk blog of 1/8/10, Unemployed Over 26 Weeks:

http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/

Third, again from the CalculatedRisk blog of 1/8/10 – I like this chart as it presents a relative depiction of Post WWII recession job losses.  As one can see, our current period of economic weakness’s job losses are outsized both in duration and severity:

As depicted by these charts, our unemployment problem is severe.  Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any “easy” solutions.

A few months ago I wrote a series of blog posts titled “Why Aren’t Companies Hiring?” which can be found at this link:

http://www.economicgreenfield.com/2009/07/24/why-arent-companies-hiring/

SPX at 1141.18 as this post is written

I think the following chart is one that surely deserves attention:

Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/UEMPMED

It shows the Median Duration of Unemployment.  One notices the trajectory of the chart during our current period of economic weakness.

Although I have reservations as to how the data on this chart is derived, I do think it is important to monitor this chart on an ongoing basis. 

This chart seems to further validate the assertion I have made before on this blog – that we are in a new (economic) environment.

SPX at 1004.09 as this post is written