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North Carolina Democratic Party
RELEASE: New Year, Same Jobs Story
Analyst: National job losses since Dec. 2007 total 8.4 million
Contact:
John Quinterno, Principal, 919-622-2392
CHAPEL HILL (February 5, 2010) – The national employment report for January points to a sickly labor market. Last month, employers eliminated 20,000 more payroll
jobs than they added. Additionally, official revisions to 2009 estimates found that the economy lost 930,000 more jobs than
first reported. Total job losses since Dec. 2007 now number 8.4 million. “The national labor market started 2010 just like it ended 2009: going nowhere,”
said John Quinterno, a principal at South by North Strategies, Ltd., a research firm specializing in economic and social policy.
“Labor market conditions have stabilized in recent months, but few meaningful improvements are occurring. The job market
continues to drift along.” In
January, the nation’s employers eliminated 20,000 more payroll positions than they created. Although the November payroll
data were revised upward (to +64,000 positions from +4,000), downward revisions to December data (to -150,000 from -85,000)
more than offset the gains. And annual revisions to the 2009 estimates found that 930,000 more positions (seasonally adjusted)
were lost than initially reported. January
job losses were concentrated in the construction (-75,000), transportation/warehousing (-19,000), and financial (-16,000)
sectors. Losses primarily were offset by gains in professional and business services (+44,000), retail trade (+42,100), and
education/health care (+16,000). Much of the increase in professional services employment was driven by the temporary help
services sub-industry (+52,000). “The
best that can be said about the January employment report is that job losses are not occurring at the dizzying pace seen in
early 2009,” added Quinterno. “Yet two years of recession have forced many Americans to the economy’s sidelines.” The extent of idle labor is reflected in the household data
released today. In January, 14.8 million Americans – 9.7 percent of the labor force – were jobless
and actively seeking work. Proportionally more adult male workers were unemployed than female ones (10 percent vs. 7.9 percent).
Similarly, unemployment rates were higher among Black (16.5 percent) and Hispanic workers (12.6 percent) than among White
ones (8.7 percent). The unemployment rate among teenagers was 26.4 percent. Furthermore, newly available data show that 9.6 percent of all veterans were unemployed
in January; the unemployment rate among veterans who had served since Sep. 2001 was 12.6 percent. Also, 15.2 percent of Americans
with disabilities were unemployed last month “In
January, just 58.4 percent of America’s working-age population was employed,” noted Quinterno. “Individuals
looking for work are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain positions. Last month, 41 percent of all unemployed workers
had been jobless for at least six months. Because the number of job seekers far exceeds the number of openings, many more
individuals have given up on finding work. Counting those individuals and those working part-time on an involuntary basis
brings the underemployment rate to 16.5 percent.” Today’s
national data suggest that another weak employment report is in store for North Carolina. Since the recession’s start,
North Carolina employers have eliminated, on net, 248,000 positions, and the statewide unemployment rate has climbed to 11.2
percent. “In recent months, job losses
and unemployment have settled at extremely high levels,” observed Quinterno. “Given that the bulk of the nation’s
economic activity hinges upon consumer expenditures, high levels of joblessness only serve as a drag on growth. Alarmingly,
one major positive contributor to growth in recent quarters – federal recovery spending – likely has achieved
its maximum effect on growth rates and will begin phasing out in 2010.” “Public-sector spending currently is the main force driving the economy, and it appears
that fundamental private-sector conditions are too weak, by themselves, to support much growth,” warned Quinterno. “This
suggests that sluggish growth and high levels of joblessness will remain a serious problem well into 2010.” ####
South by North Strategies, Ltd. is a research and communications firm specializing in studies of economic and social
policy. Its mission is to prepare high quality, affordable, applied policy research for organizations seeking to understand
and address pressing economic and social challenges. The firm is based in Chapel Hill, NC.
To learn more, visit www.sbnstrategies.com
Democratic Party
Cost of the War
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Dan Besse February 4, 2010
Friends,
We can still save comprehensive health care reform this year.
Democrats
in the House still have the votes to pass comprehensive health care reform--the version already approved by the
Senate. Democrats in the House and Senate both then still have the majorities necessary in both chambers to make further
improvements through the budget reconciliation process (which only requires a majority vote).
They
just need to stop waffling and show some backbone.
That's where we (and other health care advocates around the
nation) come in. A few calls now from the committed backers of health care coverage for all can be
the final push we need for this historic achievement.
Here's how we do it in three simple steps:
(1) Call the Democratic national campaign committees and tell them that passage of health care
reform now is important to you.
Tell them you'll make no contributions to them until health care reform
is passed. Call the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) at 202-863-1500. Call
the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) at 202-224-2447.
(2)
Call Sen. Kay Hagan and tell her that passage of health care reform now is a top priority.
Ask her to commit to working to pass
a "reconciliation" bill making improvements to the health reform legislation as approved by the Senate.
Sen. Hagan's office numbers: 202-224-6342 (Washington DC);
336-333-5311 (Greensboro); 919-856-4630 (Raleigh).
Any one will do.
(3) Call your Democratic U.S. House member and tell them to vote
for the Senate health reform bill now.
If you're not represented by a Democrat in the U.S. House, call the nearest Democratic
Congressional Representative's office and weigh in with them. The message is simple: Pass
the Senate health reform bill now. Make fixes later.
U.S. House Democratic Representatives from North Carolina: G.K. Butterfield (D-1): 202-225-3101 Bob Etheridge (D-2): 202-225-4531 David Price (D-4): 202-225-1784 Mike McIntyre (D-7): 202-225-2731 Larry Kissell (D-8): 202-225-3715 Heath Shuler (D-11): 202-225-6401 Mel Watt (D-12): 202-225-1510 Brad Miller (D-13): 202-225-3032
If you want
more details about where we are in this difficult process, I've attached a more extended explanation sheet.
Please help save comprehensive health care reform! Make these calls and pass word on to your
friends. Post it on your blogs or your Facebook pages. Forward the message by email. Send it out by carrier
pigeon if necessary. Let's not miss our generation's best chance to start bringing health care to all Americans.
Thank you!
Dan Dan Besse danbesse@danbesse.org
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