As the state of the economy and the issues surrounding gaps in income inequality continue to absorb the national spotlight, some may wonder what exactly any of the numbers that are thrown around in the media actually say about, well, anything. What does it mean when the unemployment rate drops? Does that mean people are finding jobs and the economy is improving? What do any of the numbers surrounding unemployment really say about the state of the economy?
Recently you may have heard that the unemployment rate has dropped. While that is true, it does not necessarily indicate a positive occurrence. According the jobs report of December, 74,000 jobs have been added to the economy, and the jobless rate is down to 6.7%. Adding jobs and seeing a decrease in the jobless rate, both sound like really good things on the surface. Upon further examination of what exactly these numbers mean, the poor state of employment across the country begins to reveal itself.
