Comments on: In the Scope, 6/21/08

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:04:41 +0000

That's a good find. Earlier, I only saw the graph which showed January of each year, not the chart below it. It does look like you're right- even if there were more teenagers entering the work force this year for whatever reason, it wouldn't justify the massive .5% increase. I agree there are likely many reasons.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:54:57 +0000

If Jerry Bowyer's conclusion that the unemployment spike is due to students entering the workforce, then you would expect to have similar results in previous years. But as the statistics show, the jump from April to May numbers is not reflective in previous years. Other than this year, the numbers "jumped" three times in the past ten years (2003, 2000, and 1998), but it also fell from April to May during three different years and was flat the other four years. I don't pretend to know all the variables that caused the jump in unemployment but I find Bowyer's assessment simplistic and even manipulating. And his final conclusion that students are not finding jobs as a direct correlation of the Minimum Wage Act of 2007 is sophomoric. The Labor Department in its report said, "With employers worried about a sharp slowdown and their own prospects, they clamped down on hiring in May." Perhaps that's one reason... I'm sure there are many. This blogger grabs some graphs to show the lack of correlation between minimum wage and young people's unemployment.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:56:36 +0000

What do you think that says EE?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:06:26 +0000

For the REAL truth regarding the truth about unemployment mentioned here, check out the statistics... The simplistic answers at Townhall don't cut it yet again!