*Any statements in this issue of the Watch which are not sourced are mine and identified by “WW”.
31% of Americans say the country is headed in the right direction while 64% say it is on the wrong track. [CBS, 10/30/17]
Employment
The official BLS seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2017 is 4.1%, the lowest it has been since January 2001 when the rate was 3.9%. It is also a slight dip from the 4.2% rate in September.
If one takes into account the total number of unemployed + those marginally attached to the labor force + those working part-time who want full-time work, the unemployment rate for September 2017 is 7.9%. [BLS data is based on those 16 years of age and older.]
October’s job growth of 261,000 jobs is the 85th straight month of job growth.
Gallup no longer tracks employment/unemployment.