Who qualifies to be counted as unemployed? (not for insurance, but to find the unemployment rate)?

Question

I know it is active job seekers, but is there limits to how long they are counted? Do they only count those who are drawing unemployment insurance?

Answer 1

Folks, the unemployment rate count has NOTHING to do with receiving or qualifying for unemployment insurance benefits. Totally independent of that.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does a monthly telephone survey to about 30,000 households.They essentially ask, Are you employed? If not, have you done anything to look for work in the past 6 weeks?

If you are not employed, but you are looking for work, then you count as 1) being in the labor force, and 2) being unemployed.

The unemployment rate is then the portion of those in the labor force, who are unemployed. There is no timing out or expiring, and losing benefits has nothing to do with it.

Answer 2

No - there are no limits for how long they are counted. If you are actively seeking work and don't have a job you are counted as unemployment.

It has nothing to do with unemployment insurance, this is an urban legend that has been floating around Yahoo for years.

Answer 3

I think officially its only people that qualify for unemployement benefits. Once they drop off the rolls they drop off the count. Most people I know who draw unemployement benefits don't "really" get serious about looking for a job until the benefits start to run out. So I actually think it is an over count.

Answer 4

I think the answer to your question (thinking back to macro) is that the active job seekers are counted regardless of whether they are collecting or not. Some other important factors, the people must be of working age and must not be disabled.

Answer 5

I just voted thumbs up for Kevin's answer. I think he hit the nail on the head. Next question, what qualifies Kevin as a stud?

Answer 6

People who are considered unemployeed are workers that are looking for jobs but have not found one yet.