The Big Problem Is Long-Term Unemployment
The three graphs at this link are telling the reality of unemployement: not factoring quality of jobs into the equation, we are back where we were in 2007 for short term unemployment and middle term unemployment.
The problem is for long term unemployment.
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/the-big-problem-is-long-term-unemployment/?_r=2
But long-term unemployment remains stubbornly high, although the current figure, 4.1 percent, at least has dipped below what had been (before the Great Recession) the post World War II high of 4.2 percent reached in early 1983. More than half of the unemployed workers have been out of work for at least 15 weeks.
Also, a bunch of these people are not on unemployment benefits anymore
There are still 4.4 million workers who have been unemployed for at least six months. That is down from the peak of 6.7 million, but it is still very high. And that number does not include people who have given up looking for work.
Fed policy is not well suited to deal with this problem. But it does not look as if fiscal policy, which would have a chance, will be used anytime soon.
So, could Democrats actually look at the problem? Please, pretty please? This would be more useful than just whining that the GOP are idiots.
And no, these solutions are not only stimulus. It will take a very long time before companies hire people who have been out of jobs for one or two years, or even longer.