Unemployed Americans dropping out of labor pool

Story last updated at 12:58 a.m. Friday, April 2, 2004



Unemployed Americans dropping out of labor pool

Many older workers giving up hope of finding new jobs; younger employees finding market tight right out of college

By LEIGH STROPE
AP Labor Writer
WASHINGTON - Computer programmer Gunther Viktor is an unwilling work force dropout.

The 64-year-old Phoenix resident was laid off in December 2001 after his employer, a contractor, completed the project to which Viktor was assigned. The work then dried up.

For months, Viktor looked for full-time, part-time or contract work. Then eligible to retire and draw reduced Social Security benefits, he decided to do so. But he really wanted to work five more years.
(snip)

The share of the U.S. population working or actively seeking a job has fallen to 65.9 percent, the lowest level in 16 years. Economists say the weak jobs market is causing people to give up their searches and drop out of the labor pool at an unusual pace - holding down the unemployment rate, which was 5.6 percent in February.
(snip/...)

http://morningsun.net/stories/040204/usw_20040402029.shtml

Words of "jobless" recovery are lobs
by dems intent on spreading fear
of course business is creating jobs
(there just not 'round here).

need to console the tired dad, the new grad
entering this market so moribund?
Just tell 'em things aren't so bad
as long as they've a trust fund.

29 months, nothing long-term.

A computer programmer. Why do you ask?

--bkl

in the ''liberal major media'', alex.