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 unemployment situation.

The first two charts are from the St. Louis Fed site.  Here is the Median Duration of Unemployment (current value = 21.1 weeks) :

(click on charts to enlarge images)(charts updated as of 2-3-12)

-

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over (current value =  5.518 million) :

-

Lastly, a chart from the CalculatedRisk.com site, from the February 3 post titled “Graphs:  Unemployment Rate, Participation Rate, Jobs Added.”  This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions, as shown:

-

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.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1344.90 as this post is written

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 unemployment situation.

The first two charts are from the St. Louis Fed site.  Here is the Median Duration of Unemployment (current value = 21 weeks) :

(click on charts to enlarge images)(charts updated as of 1-6-12)

-

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over (current value =  5.588 million) :

-

Lastly, a chart from the CalculatedRisk.com site, from the January 6 post titled “December Unemployment Report…”  This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions, as shown:

-

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.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1277.81 as this post is written

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 unemployment 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)(charts updated as of 12-2-11)

-

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over:

-

Lastly, a chart from the CalculatedRisk.com site, from the December 2 post titled “November Unemployment Report…”  This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions, as shown:

-

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.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1244.28 as this post is written

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 unemployment 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)(charts updated as of 11-4-11)

-

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over:

-

Lastly, a chart from the CalculatedRisk.com site, from the November 4 post titled “October Unemployment Report…”  This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions, as shown:

-

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.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1253.23 as this post is written

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 unemployment 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)(charts updated as of 10-7-11)

-

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over:

-

Lastly, a chart from the CalculatedRisk.com site, from the October 7 post titled “September Unemployment Report…”  This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions, as shown:

-

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.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1155.46 as this post is written

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 unemployment 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)(charts updated as of 9-2-11)

-

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over:

-

Lastly, a chart from the CalculatedRisk.com site, from the September 2 post titled “August Unemployment Report…”  This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions, as shown:

-

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.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1173.97 as this post is written

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 unemployment 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)(charts updated as of 8-5-11)

-

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over:

-

Lastly, a chart from the CalculatedRisk.com site, from the August 5 post titled “July Unemployment Report.”  This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions, as shown:

-

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.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1199.38 as this post is written

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 unemployment 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)(charts updated as of 7-8-11)

-

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over:

-

Lastly, a chart from the CalculatedRisk.com site, from the July 8 post titled “Employment Summary, Part Time Workers and Unemployed over 26 Weeks.” This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions, as shown:

-

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.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1343.80 as this post is written

While I don’t agree with various of the report’s assumptions and conclusions, I am posting the report because it is a notable long-term forecast and discussion of the U.S. employment situation.

An excerpt from the Executive Summary (page 1):

The results of our analysis are sobering:  only in the most optimistic scenario will the United States return to full employment before 2020.  Achieving this outcome will require sustained demand growth, rising US competitiveness in the global economy, and better matching of US workers to jobs.

In a footnote to the above excerpt, McKinsey defines “full employment” as 5% unemployment.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1337.88 as this post is written

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 unemployment 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)(charts updated as of 6-3-11)

-

Here is the chart for Unemployed 27 Weeks and Over:

-

Lastly, a chart from the CalculatedRisk.com site, from the June 3 post titled “Employment Summary, Part Time Workers and Unemployed over 26 Weeks.” This shows the employment situation vs. that of previous recessions, as shown:

-

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.

_____

The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1300.16 as this post is written