Unemployment Report: The Results Are In

By: Anna Spivak

As we enter the final, faithful days of the 2012 election, the promise of a hopeful future hangs on the minds of many Americans. With the Bureau of Labor’s release of the final unemployment report on Friday, November 2^nd, the closing battles have begun; A chance for both candidates to tie up loose ends and prepare for an encounter with voters who have experienced the highest unemployment rate of any incumbent since Franklin Roosevelt (Associated Press, 2012).

According to CNBC, among other numerous sources, President Obama is discussing “progress,” in regards to unemployment. Although we are not there yet, his camp maintains, there has been progress. With the realization of this very slow moving development, Obama tells a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio, “We know we've got lots to do.”

Governor Romney has said that the final report is a concrete reminder of the halt our economy has experienced; an important point he will surely present in his closing case on the topic of unemployment and the policies implemented by President Obama.

Both candidates have an opportunity to use these statistics in their closing arguments. Terminally, they read as follows: An increase in the unemployment rate for African Americans is up to 14.3 percent, long term unemployed (27 weeks or more) was little changed at 5.0 million, Civilian labor force grew by 578,000 to 155.6 million, Labor Force Participation rate edged up to 63.8 percent, and total employment rose by 410,000 (Atkinson, 2012). Public data extracted from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains that the unemployment rate in the United States currently rests at 7.9 percent.

It will be interesting to see how this unemployment report and its reaction will play out in the election. As stated by Bert Atkinson of the Independent Journal Review, the Obama administration will be sure to mention the addition of 171,000 new jobs to the work force while Governor Romney’s campaign will report on how weak the recovery has been along with how the unemployment rate is still not where it should be.

With many other issues at the forefront of the Election, along with Hurricane Sandy devastating a record amount of business and their employees, the issue of unemployment has taken what seems to be a backseat. However, to some undecided voters, a candidate’s stance on this particular topic might make all the difference. When looking at the record amount of young voters that participated in the previous election, it seems obvious that the candidates should turn some of their appeal toward them.  Creating new jobs and feeding the work force that so many of us depend on is crucial during this time.

In hopes of a bright and prosperous outcome for the unemployed after the election, the issue might not lay so much in the hands of the President, but in the citizens themselves. To thrive and do well in this country, it takes a vast amount of hard work and dedication put forth by the individual. Whoever is elected will hopefully do their best to aid the unemployed population, while the unemployed population should do as much as they can to help themselves.  

Works Cited

Atkinson, Bert. "Final Jobs Report Before Election Released." Independent Journal Review. N.p., November 2 2012. Web. <http://www.ijreview.com/2012/11/21138-breaking-final-jobs-report-before-election-released/>.

. "Unemployment Report: Final Fodder for Election." CNBC. Associated Press, November 2 2012. Web. <http://www.cnbc.com/id/49657340>.

. "Bureau of Labor Statistics." United States Department of Labor. N.p., November 02 2012. Web. <http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000>.