ECONOMICS REPORT - Measuring Jobs in U.S.

ECONOMICS REPORT - Measuring Jobs in U.S.
By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Friday, September 10, 2004

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Last Friday, the United States Labor¹ Department released the employment numbers for August. The report said the number of unemployed² people and the unemployment rate were both about the same as in July.

Unemployment was down one-tenth of one percent, to five point four percent. More than one hundred fifty thousand people left the labor force for whatever reason. Last summer the unemployment rate reached six point three percent.

The report said the number of jobs increased by one hundred forty-four thousand in August. There were gains in health care and several other industries that provide services. Manufacturers added twenty two thousand jobs.

The Labor Department also said almost sixty thousand more jobs were created in June and July than first reported.

President Bush said the new information shows that the "economy is strong and getting stronger." Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry saw the numbers differently. He said Mister Bush is now sure to be, in his words, "the first president since the Great Depression to face re-election without creating a single job." Both could be right, depending on which measure they use.

The Department of Labor measures employment in two ways. One is known as the household survey. Sixty thousand households are asked if anyone age sixteen and over had worked during the past week. Even those who worked without pay in a family business or farm are considered employed.

The other measure is taken from information from one hundred sixty thousand employers. This is known as the establishment survey. It does not include farm workers or the self-employed.

The number of Americans counted as employed is about eight million higher in the household survey. The Republicans use numbers from this survey to point to job growth among the self-employed and others. The Democrats³ use the establishment survey to talk about the economy having fewer jobs than four years ago. But the two surveys measure employment differently.

In any case, many economists⁴ noted⁵ that the rate of job creation has slowed compared to earlier this year. They say more jobs are needed just to meet population growth.

This VOA Special English Economics Report was written by Mario Ritter. This is Gwen Outen.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

3 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。