So Much For The Job Gains Trump Talked Up: Census Data Shows Employment Downturn

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 06: A New York Labor Department office is viewed in Manhattan
A New York Labor Department office is viewed in Manhattan. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

For several weeks, real-time data has suggested that the economic recovery could be stalling in the United States. But new data from the Census Bureau on Wednesday reveals that employment has taken a significant hit and the economy could be declining again. 

The New York Times reported Wednesday, that new data from the Census Bureau showed that the number of employed people fell by more than 4 million last week — marking the fourth consecutive week of decline. The Times reported that the data, if taken literally, may indicate that job gains that were once touted by President Donal Trump may have been lost since mid-May, when new coronavirus cases surged in parts of the country.

Just under 52 percent of American adults were employed last week, according the survey, down from 54 percent in June.

The data comes from the bureau’s weekly Household Pulse Survey, an experimental effort to track the pandemic’s economic impact. 

The survey’s track record, although brief, has been solid. It correctly signaled, for example, the significant rise in employment in the jobs report for June, the Times said. 

The latest data corresponds to the survey week for the July report, which will be released in early August. If the results hold up again, it suggests that report could show a loss of millions of jobs, just as enhanced unemployment benefits from the federal government are set to expire.

Notable Replies

  1. This is very misleading. The only reason we have these levels of unemployment is because we ask so many people if they’re employed or not.

  2. At some point unemployment is gonna, sort of, just disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it’ll disappear.

  3. Not surprising at all

  4. Just under 52 percent of American adults were employed last week

    Which means approx. 48% of American adults were NOT employed last week

    AND yet…MoscowMitch LAUGHS when asked about passing new Covid aid!

    How CALLOUS and CRUEL!

    MoscowMitch-LaughsHeroesAct

  5. How soon before they start setting up soup kitchens?

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

34 more replies

Participants

Avatar for discobot Avatar for austin_dave Avatar for daveminnj Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for becca656 Avatar for irasdad Avatar for bonvivant Avatar for hagarwood Avatar for grandpajoe Avatar for tribalogical Avatar for fuadreviez Avatar for ljb860 Avatar for noonm Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for khyber900 Avatar for john819 Avatar for rhs1963 Avatar for maximus Avatar for jackyt Avatar for greenman66 Avatar for daninillinois Avatar for Mikebeee Avatar for josep

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: