NC unemployement rates accurate? (transplants, find a job, living in)

[NC man]

I had this discussion with a person who brought it to my attention that the Unemployement rates listed cannot be accurate because they are based on numbers of people who file for state unemployement benefits, and that a large percent of the transplants do not qualify or dont file because they live off equity and dont collect benefits but are still unemployed and not factored into the percent. He stated it could be off as much as 5%.he did not show me facts. Is any one on top of this issue and know what the real deal is ? His case seems to make sense. Would like some facts on it.

[Packer Fan]

Originally Posted by NC man

I had this discussion with a person who brought it to my attention that the Unemployement rates listed cannot be accurate because they are based on numbers of people who file for state unemployement benefits, and that a large percent of the transplants do not qualify or dont file because they live off equity and dont collect benefits but are still unemployed and not factored into the percent. He stated it could be off as much as 5%.he did not show me facts. Is any one on top of this issue and know what the real deal is ? His case seems to make sense. Would like some facts on it.

Most of the transplants I know move here because of a job. They dont just move here willy nilly and HOPE for a job. (though I am sure there are some).

I do not know of a single person that is unemployed.

I would opine that the numbers are accurate.

[ellemaew]

I'd think that that is possibility. I moved here without a job - and was receiving unemployment benefits from California. From reading these boards, it seems like there are a number of people who move here without a job - but I don't think it's an accurate enough sample to determine what, if any, the effect is on the unemployment rate.

[mm34b]

How the Government Measures Unemployment - http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm

Questions Answered

Why does the Government collect statistics on the unemployed?

Where do the statistics come from?

What are the basic concepts of employment and unemployment?

Who is counted as employed?

Who is counted as unemployed?

Who is not in the labor force?

What about cases of overlap?

How are seasonal fluctuations taken into account?

Is there only one official definition of unemployment?

U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics

[NC man]

Good response thxs

[NC man]

After reading the info I think what he was saying is true, They only take a sample survey and it is still based on State unemployement filing. Folks from out of state would show under their prior state numbers not NC. This could be quite misleading to people thinking unemployement is low, when you consider 45,000 people had to find a job last year in the raleigh area alone and how many did not is not accounted for. This would also reflect so many posts having trouble with a job.

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by NC man

After reading the info I think what he was saying is true, They only take a sample survey and it is still based on State unemployement filing. Folks from out of state would show under their prior state numbers not NC. This could be quite misleading to people thinking unemployement is low, when you consider 45,000 people had to find a job last year in the raleigh area alone and how many did not is not accounted for. This would also reflect so many posts having trouble with a job.

If you are not working at some job while living in the Triangle...even if it's not quite what you want....you aren't trying.

Sure, it may not be a 100k a year....but there are jobs out there for all skill sets and skill levels.