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A comment on US unemployment has been under 4% for the longest streak since the Vietnam War. Parent comment

Re:US unemployment has been under 4% for the longest streak ... by porknubbins on Saturday January 06, 2024 @09:24PM (#38897785)
Thats only true if after 6 months you give up and stop looking for work. If you have looked for work (very broadly defined, even just asking friends counts) in the past four weeks you are counted as part of the labor force.
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Re:US unemployment has been under 4% for the longest streak ... by hornban on Saturday January 06, 2024 @09:29PM (#38897808)
In what capacity are you counted in this situation? I have a hard time believing that "asking a friend" somehow makes it into government labor statistics.
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Re:US unemployment has been under 4% for the longest streak ... by dghlsakjg on Saturday January 06, 2024 @09:52PM (#38897969)
The government does random polling. “Asking a friend” actually does explicitly qualify as looking for work.

https://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#unemployed

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Re:US unemployment has been under 4% for the longest streak ... by creer on Saturday January 06, 2024 @09:51PM (#38897967)
I don't remember the details but it seems to me: active polling (interviews) is involved, and we never see it because they use an amazingly small sample. So that, yes, it can be counted.
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