Given that today's new jobs report is the last report we'll see before Election Day, there's arguably a little more interest than usual in the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report. And in this case, the figures offer good economic news for the American people, and good political news for President Obama.
The U.S. economy created 171,000 jobs in October, far more than expected, while American businesses created 184,000 jobs -- the best month for the private sector since February.
The overall unemployment rate ticked slightly higher, to 7.9%, but that's the result of a positive trend -- more Americans entered the workforce, which is exactly what we'd hope to see in an improving economy.
Even more encouraging, the new report revised job totals from August and September, and both were updated in a good direction, adding a combined 84,000.
For context, I'd note that so far in 2012 (which still has two months to go), the economy has created over 1.56 million jobs, which is already better than five of the eight years of the Bush/Cheney era.
Above you'll find the chart I run on the first Friday of every month, showing monthly job losses since the start of the Great Recession. The image makes a distinction -- red columns point to monthly job totals under the Bush administration, while blue columns point to job totals under the Obama administration.
Update: Here's another chart, this one showing monthly job losses/gains in just the private sector since the start of the Great Recession.
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But the MSN headline is the unemployment rate went up to 7.9%. I guess headline writers have to make things sound good for their masters.
Unfortunately, Ron, this job creation still proves it has always been the Democrats that have to fix that Republican mess that destroys our economy and everything else.
I know Deb. Democratic presidents are like the mommy who has to constantly clean up the messes gleefully created by the spoiled little brat Republicans.
The number increased slightly because more people entered the workforce, according to economists. That's a good thing. The recovery is chugging along, and that's good for us all. Yay America!
Imagine the unemployment numbers if a large number of seniors on Social Security got dumped back into the workforce.
No doubt the chart is good news, but I'd like to see the erratic aspect of the job creation curve explained.
Also I'm curious, what happened in summer of 2010?
Compare the two charts. Overall losses in summer 2010. Private sector gains.
That means PUBLIC sector losses that were larger than the private gains. Governments, especially local governments, were continuing to lay off workers in order to balance their budgets, given that their revenue (esp. property taxes) was way down.
Teachers. Police. Firemen.
In the "Overall" graph, which includes public sector, the spike up and then the losses are due, in part, to temporary census workers.
Don't forget the stimulus allowed states to keep folks employed till 2010. By then if the state hadn't worked on stabilzing public sector jobs those people were fired. That's what happened here in Alabama where our Legisl. worked on Immigration and Abortion but did nothing to stabilize jobs for the first 2 years of the current Admin.
Thanks friends.
This just proves that it has always been the Democrats who had to fix the Republican screw-ups and messes.
It also shows why this President needs 4 more years, and a democratic Congress! Just imagine what more could have been accomplished if there had been a Congress that worked with him instead of being obstructionists!
You got that right Zora. But what happened was the extreme wealthy set up people with this so-called tea party Republicans to mess things up. Don't be fooled these Tea baggers are no different than other Republicans right now. This is all driven by way too much corruption by Republicans and the extreme wealthy deceiving people.
This is a great day for the recovery of America and shows that we are stronger than the naysayers and detractors may have thought. What this also means is that the last remaining pillar of Mitt Romney's candidacy has now been shoved out from under him, leaving the GOP with nothing to run on but lies and exaggerations. Romney wants "change," but why change paths in the middle of a solid economic recovery that has more people finding jobs and getting paychecks? Mitt has been rooting against America and Americans the entire campaign. It was a bad bet that has failed him now. - progressive
I beg to differ with you TheActivist... Romney has been rooting against America and Americans his entire life!
This jobs report is exactly why Romney is fighting so hard with blatant lies and deception.He knows the economy is vastly improving and he will take the credit if elected.Those that have'nt voted yet need to take a hard look at what this President has accomplished in four years.And he accomplished it without the help of the republicans and some democrats.I'd say what he has done is nothing short of amazing.We cannot put the fate of this country back into the hands of the same party that took us to the precipice of economic destruction in the first place.
"nothing short of amazing"??? for having the worst record in presidential history?....for having higher unemployment than when he took office (7.8%)? Only liberals would want to give him a participation ribbon for his efforts...he had a super-majority for two years and now with a few months left in his presidency...job creation is important to him? He hasn't met with his Jobs board since January... do the research... Reagan had it worse...and he fostered an economy that returned americans to work within 10 months. I know I'm wasting my "breath"...just prepare for a landslide Romney victory as his billion in negative attack ads have not fooled enough to get him re-elected....And watch for a rapid boost to the economy right after the election...yes, in Obama's term.....due from businesses who have been restrained from growth due to Obama's "war on business". Also...prepare for an impeachment trial due to "Benghazi-gate"
Gee somebody (bularky) did'nt mention the two Presidents between Reagan and Obama. One created 22 million jobs and left a $600 billion+surplus.The other blew it and left an economy on the verge of collapse. Can you guess which is which?
What about the Twin Towers there was a ton of conspiracy bs floating around that Bush knew about the terrorist & the coming attacks & did nothing.
Romney is a sellout politician, saying what the fat cats & GOP want him to say. Too bad,cuz long ago he did sound pretty good. In the long ago days when he was just Mitt and not the Willard he is today. I feel thats why he flip-flops so much, he wants to be Mod.Mitt but the GOP & Gover Norquist just want a puppet in office to regurge their right wing crap. Willard has become a sellout just like Sarah. And Ryan will cut the middle class out of existence. We'll have rising health care cost, insurances cherry pick their patients & types of coverage,more children in foster care, no preventive medicine, and illegal abortions (again).
Bullarky...I realize much of what you detail are talking points but there are a few corrections to note. Dems did not have a "super-majority for two years" as the Ted Kennedy was replaced by Scott Brown thus eliminating the 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster. Which is also why the House passed the ACA "without reading it" because that was the version they already passed the Senate and to change it would have required returning to the Senate where it would have died. And to your point about Reagan, his solutions included increased deficit spending, increasing the debt, increases in public sector employment and a few other tidbits that the now (and only when a D resides in the White House) fiscal conservative republicans refused to assist this president in accomplishing. All during the worst financial collapse and far worse than the recession inherited by Reagan. To pull together for the sole purpose of restoring their party to political power OVER the good of the country is in my opinion treason and I simply can not reward them with my vote...despite the decades of conditioning to oppose all democrats. I am curious how you tolerate the flip-flopping as I was taught to abhor this and yet Romney seems to be getting a pass from the very folks who instructed me to despise this in a politician.
But I am so disappointed . It is not 12 million Jobs. If only Obama had Mitt's magic wand ...
Well considering that the Holiday shopping season is on us and the cleanup efforts for Sandy are going to be getting into full swing in most likely less than a week I think you are going to see some large shifts in at least temporary employment. The problem is that it's going to be after the election and if he is elected I guarantee Romney is going to take credit for it
Comparing the two, the difference is that there is a net loss in public-sector jobs. Meaning that overall, state, local, and federal government is getting smaller, not larger. I believe federal employment is also lower on it's own.
And yet, the GOP claims simultaneously that government is too big and getting bigger, that only the private sector can boost the economy long term (we agree), and that the private sector is somehow tied down in red tape.
They even have the guts to sometimes point out that "more teachers are out of work" at the same time as claiming the stimulus was a failure, when it did at least employ teachers, police, and firefighters for a couple of years.
Just wait I am sure before the end of this thread we will hear
"The books are cooked, The books are cooked, Benghazi was a lie Raaack Polly wants a cracker"
Hey, Billy Goat Gruff! Walk quietly across the bridge, or you will wake up the Troll!
Maybe we could start a pool ...who will be first .??? I got $10 that says Lynksys Routerboy 1000 ...that is his fave or maybe lisz or whatever that syntax challenged thing is
This is my projection for the troll parade: Shooter, Then Robdon, then Linkboy and Pat
(It's Friday linkboy isn't on till the lunch shift)
Basically what the chart shows is slow ,steady, but positive growth. Sustainable growth that the president said he would produce despite the obstruction of the Republicans. Yes, you could say that everybody lost their jobs in a rush and panic that the sky was falling but it takes awhile to shore up the walls , put things in place and rebuild confidence and quash distrust.Romneys promises to put millions back to work immediately are bogus and a shameful play for the immediate gratification crowd.
What takes longer? Building a house of cards or tearing it down?
What takes longer? Building a skyscraper or tearing it down?
What takes longer? Building an economy or tearing it down?
Not only does the President need 4 more years, he needs to be commended on the great job he has done so far. Especially considering he has had 1 hand tied behind his back for most of the last 4 years.
One hand tied behind the Presidents back? That would be the Right Hand.
Sadly because of the Republican do nothing good congress and administration's necessary preoccupation with fixing the immediate mess with one hand tied behind our backs we have done nothing to address the long term structural changes that render traditional full employment measures difficult or impossible to achieve.
Damn I wish we could have an in-depth conversation about the workplace changes that don't allow the kind of rebound normally experienced after a deep recession.
I totally agree. We just don't have in-depth conversations - everything has to be boiled down to sound bites, bumper stickers and 2 minute debate answers.
Like Montgomery Burns has said, they are unimaginably horrible good job numbers.
How poignant is it that a cartoon character perfectly sums up the collective republican reaction to this news.
The republican party IS the enemy of America.
I wish the president would come out and say that now is the time for congress to move on that jobs bill that contains so much for infrastructure. now that we know we are going to have to rebuild the northeast, that is the role the federal gov't can play and congress needs to do right by it citizens and move that bill so we can get people to the northeast and start to rebuild a part of the country that's been damaged.
if there is something good to be made out of this natural disaster it is that we know how to help ourselves get back on our feet. he should say that even if these are the last days of his presidency, he is going to see that they are used in upholding the rights of the citizens under his care and that he wants the entire nation, including congress, to join with him by getting funds that will not only help the northeast but the entire economy.
he should say something like that before the election in a few days and dare congress to start saying no. it's only two more years for the midterm elections. folks will remember who stood in the way.
I voted yesterday!!!!!! It felt good; Yet I long for the days when I could vote for a Republican or two. as long as religion and lie's dominate that party it's pro-choice independents and democrats for me.
Great job on JOB"S Mr. President, but more stimulus plz
Hey look at that, I made it here 1st I think. I apologize for messing up the order Dragoon :-)
For some the numbers reflect the NY Jets quarterback controversy. Obama Sanchez has a qb rating of about 65 and on the bench is Mitt Tebow (I see Romney Tebowing more than Obama) who is suspect but could move the ball up and down the field at an improved rate if elected.
What we do know is this, Obama Sanchez suck@ and it is time to make a move.
One would better equate the scenario using the miserable KC Chiefs as an example. So much promise and yet such a mess at mid season. Either way, Obama is not good at his job and the team (America) needs an effective change to make a move Forward.
171,000 jobs gain is below what is necessary. And ticking up 7.9% is average for Obama's term. We're a 500% team again in each of the four years he's been at the helm.
Romney is our best shot (veteran Free Agent acquisition) to create a real playoff contender.
I don't care for the Jets. But they are a good analogy sample. Obama is like the Jets! Lots of bravado but NO Championship in four years and things ARE going seriously down hill. (Axelrod is Rex Ryan) brash, crass and full a baloney.
Could be worse, I could have said Obama is another Jamarcus Russell/Ryan Leaf. Total flop. Goodness knows he's NO Jack Kennedy and he's NO Warren Moon.
shouldn't use a sports scenario at all. in this case, you want to blame the QB for having an average year but you don't say anything about the team mates that should be helping the team but instead decided to play against the team.
congress isn't the opposition - they should be on the same team - instead they decided they were going to sack the quarterback on every play - even if it means they don't get to their own end zone when they're on offense.
given those stats, to be average isn't a failure - it's a sign of how good this would be if members who should be with you didn't get together the day you were signed on to the team and decided they didn't want you as QB.
Beverly although I disagree with your analysis if given your take then that speaks of what's wrong with the QB where his own teammates will NOT play for him.
He lacks LEADERSHIP qualities. Average IS a failure. After all, at one time ALL the team WAS of Obama's team. Pelosi and Reed etc. They all played with the same identical playbook. The QB suck@ The team suck@ Even when ALL were dems the QB could NOT move the ball.
Using QB's as reference, if The Rom wins, which at this point is looking highly unlikely, within a year he will be compared to Ryan Leaf!
Positive jobs numbers - YAY AMERICA! Republicans are pissed.
Love your charts, Steve!
Irish Putz, what a lame analogy, but to play along...
Romney's like a 3rd string pine rider who couldn't even read a nickel defense.
His play book is paper thin, and obsolete by 30 years.
Obama on the other hand is the franchise player that has taken over a team that for 8 years was run into a ditch by an incompetent coaching staff.
The rebuilding is close to complete, and soon the offense will be humming and scoring, an no amount of bitching and moaning and complaining by the opposite team is going to prevent them from being relegated to the dustbin of history.
Please, please don't forget to vote out the teapugs when you vote. We need a Democratic Congress to keep the teapug from destroying America at all cost. If they were running the country during this devastating storm recovery, everyone would be on their own because "we don't need the Federal Government in our lives" (of course, they don't have a problem with being in women's private parts). This storm damage is a perfect example of how we can create jobs by rebuilding our aging infrastructure, but the teapugs will never go along with that!!! get them out!!!
HAH! Teapug.....like being back in the High School Cafeteria at lunchtime....
CBS finally is looking into it! This is not from FOX. please read, and grasp the magnitude of this.
"The response process was isolated at the most senior level," says an official referring to top officials in the executive branch. "My fellow counterterrorism professionals and I (were) not consulted."
Sources: Key task force not convened during Benghazi consulate attack
CBS News has learned that during the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Mission in Benghazi, the Obama Administration did not convene its top interagency counterterrorism resource: the Counterterrorism Security Group, (CSG).
"The CSG is the one group that's supposed to know what resources every agency has. They know of multiple options and have the ability to coordinate counterterrorism assets across all the agencies," a high-ranking government official told CBS News. "They were not allowed to do their job. They were not called upon."
Information shared with CBS News from top counterterrorism sources in the government and military reveal keen frustration over the U.S. response on Sept. 11, the night Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed in a coordinated attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya.
The circumstances of the attack, including the intelligence and security situation there, will be the subject of a Senate Intelligence Committee closed hearing on Nov. 15, with additional hearings to follow.
Counterterrorism sources and internal emails reviewed by CBS News express frustration that key responders were ready to deploy, but were not called upon to help in the attack.
CBS News has agreed not to quote directly from the emails, and to protect the identities of the sources who hold sensitive counterterrorism posts within the State Department, the U.S. military and the Justice Department.
As to why the Counterterrorism Security Group was not convened, National Security Council Spokesman Tommy Vietor told CBS News "From the moment the President was briefed on the Benghazi attack, the response effort was handled by the most senior national security officials in governments. Members of the CSG were of course involved in these meetings and discussions to support their bosses."
Absent coordination from Counterterrorism Security Group, a senior U.S. counterterrorism official says the response to the crisis became more confused. The official says the FBI received a call during the attack representing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and requesting agents be deployed. But he and his colleagues agreed the agents "would not make any difference without security and other enablers to get them in the country and synch their efforts with military and diplomatic efforts to maximize their success."
Another senior counter terrorism official says a hostage rescue team was alternately asked to get ready and then stand down throughout the night, as officials seemed unable to make up their minds.
A third potential responder from a counter-terror force stationed in Europe says components of AFICOM -- the military's Africa Command based in Stuttgart, Germany -- were working on course of action during the assault. But no plan was put to use.
"Forces were positioned after the fact but not much good to those that needed it," the military source told CBS News.
"The response process was isolated at the most senior level," says an official referring to top officials in the executive branch. "My fellow counterterrorism professionals and I (were) not consulted."
The official says a protocol set forth in a classified presidential directive calls for the Counterterrorism Security Group (CSG) to be convened in the event of a possible terrorist attack. According to a public military document, the directive was designed to "synchronize the efforts of all the government agencies that have a role to play in the Global War on Terrorism."
The Administration also didn't call on the only interagency, on-call, short notice team poised to respond to terrorist incidents worldwide: the Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST). FEST's seasoned experts leave within four hours of notification and can provide "the fastest assistance possible."
FEST Teams deployed immediately after al Qaeda bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa in 1998, and the USS Cole in 2000, but were not used for Benghazi, to the chagrin of some insiders. It's likely that the CSG task force, if contacted, would have recommended FEST aid.
"First a tactical response was needed," says a senior U.S. counterterrorism official, "and while that was being implemented, the holistic response could have been developed and deployed within hours" which could have allowed the FBI investigate safely on site well ahead of the "24 days it took."
When asked why the FEST wasn't utilized, a State Department official said it was used previously in East Africa because of damage sustained to a U.S. Embassy "to help restore communications and other infrastructure support. In this case, that was unnecessary at Embassy Tripoli."
A White House official told us that at the start of the attack, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Martin Dempsey and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta "looked at available options, and the ones we exercised had our military forces arrive in less than 24 hours, well ahead of timelines laid out in established policies." He also said a "small group of reinforcements" was sent from Tripoli to Benghazi, but declined to say how many or what time they arrived. The Pentagon moved a team of special operators from central Europe to Sigonella, Italy but gave no other details.
Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans died in a protracted battle over the course of eight hours. It's believed two of the victims, Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, died in a mortar attack some six or seven hours after the U.S. Mission was first overrun by a terrorist mob that burned buildings and used AK-47 rifles, bombs, and mortars.
Again please vote "no value" on this and collapse it.
If you want to make a point about the Benghazi attacks that's OK. But do not spam the thread by copy and pasting full articles. You can link the articles to us and add your commentary- you do not need to regurgitate the article verbatim.
SingCanary, US embassies were attacked 12 times under the Cheney/Bush failure.
Remember 9-11? the biggest intelligence failure of all time?
Remember Iraq? A war of choice based on lies???
Give it a rest. CBS is just another right wing media platform, albeit more subtle than Fux Noise.
Here is a link that debunks this right wing whacko myth:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-cia-20121102,0,2438659.story
And another, from a different news org.:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/world/africa/cia-played-major-defensive-role-in-libya-attack.html
Get a grip
Sorry, Rachel, but this just doesn't wow me. Sure it's higher than what it was this time last year, but the trend is varying +/- 7.8/7.9%. This is not an upward climb, but a holding steady of the average.
Look up the words fickle, vascillator, expediency and inconsistency in Webster's, and there will soon be a picture of one, Mitt Romney. I know politicans say what they need to say at the moment, but I have never seen anything like this. The only thing Romney has said that I believe truly reflects the inner man's most honest viewpoint is when he spoke unabated at that $50,000 a plate fund raiser. That was the Wizard behind the curtain. But that is not the reason I will be voting along democratic party lines. G.W. Bush sent us into Iraq to get rid of weapons of mass destruction, of which they did not have. Then it became about getting rid of a bad man, a dictator. If that was the criteria for engaging in a pre-emptive, illegal strike against a country that had not attacked us first, then by that rationale we should have headed to North Korea, then to countries in Africa like the Sudan. Afterall, North Korea has a brutal dictator and WE know for a fact they have weapons of mass destruction. Heck, they flaunt them right in front ours and the world's face. Bush said he wanted to spread Americana style democracy(wink, wink). At the cost of thousands of Americans killed and wounded, Iraqis got a chance to vote in an election. Tragic as it was, what the Iraqis and Americans went through to vote pales in comparison to this countries birthing of democracy. Just because people can cast a ballot, doesn't mean they live in what we think of when we think of a democracy. Our fading democracy is the very reason I have chosen not to vote republican. Here at home, governors in some states have been engaging in tactics to make it more difficult, even illegal, for certain demographics to vote, namely the disabled, the elderly and the minorites. Whatever Bush/Chenney's true reasoning for invading Iraq one can only speculate. After seeing our heroes in uniform bleed and die in Iraq and to see the people of that country vote for the first time, its not hard to see there is a price to be paid for the priviledge and right to vote. The blood that was shed by the pioneers of America to extinguish rule by decree from a King across the Atlantic, was a cost unmeasurable. Out of all that death and destruction emerged a society that could determine its own leaders and rule of law. For the longest time, voting was a right given to a few(European males). All men were supposedly created equal. They just did not remain that way for long. Women eventually had had enough and earned their rightful place at the polls. It wasn't a gift. The violence perpetrated on those of the Civil Rights movement was an American disgrace but despite the attempt by some to silence them, especially in the Bible belt, that did not dissuade them from abandoning what they saw as their mission; to gain the same rights and respect as any other American. When I try and grasp the sacrifices Americans of yesteryear made for the simple act of casting a vote and to have some measure of dignity, it becomes extremely bothersome when I see, in our own backyard, an attempt by some elected officials to turn the clock backwards. Certain governors, through their appointed Secretaries of State, are using their pen to try as best they can to keep Americans of certain demographics from exercising their right to vote. Since it seems to be happening in states controlled by republicans, especially Ohio, I will definitely not vote for anyone affiliated with that party this year. The Secretary of the State of Ohio and Governor Kasic has taken their voter suppression efforts to every court. Their efforts fell short everywhere, so they tried taking it before the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency hearing. They got a once sentence response. They were basically told to take their paperwork and go home. Some republicans would still not let it go and attempted to file suit against Ohio's Secretary of State espousing he had not done enough or try harder to disenfranchise certain voters. That is called no shame. This one person one vote concept implies voter equality. The election of the president of these United States of America boils down to about a dozen or so states out of 50. And unless and until campaign finance laws are changed in order to put back some sanity in the way and the how we elect people, it will be the un-named Super Pac millionaire donors who will ultimately determine not only who runs for president, but the outcome of all elections. It did not surprise me when the Supreme Court Justices in place at the time went along with the system we have in place for financing campaigns, saying it was constitutional on the grounds of "free speech". Writing a check for ten million dollars does speak volumes, that is a fact. But it makes the recipient beholden to a few because they expect a big bang for their big bucks. The majority of Americans, which is more than 47 percent, have little to no voice when money does the talking. When a politician has to concern himself with not disappointing a few, he often disappoints the masses. But their job is to get elected. Getting re-elected is where they put their heart and soul. Governance and playing well with others is secondary. We've seen the lack of governance lately. Gridlock is seen as a badge of honor, whereas compromise is seen as a sign of weakness. Some politicians refuse to even utter the word compromise. The sad part about politics at the national level is that it has become a career and not seen as it was meant to be, i.e, public service.
Its not at all surprising to me, school kids have to go back to school but soon the Xmas express will get the numbers back up again. Of course high gas prices hurt the recovery more than anything.
Someone here mentioned high gas prices as one of the primary drags on the economy... and I would agree with them. But it is curious that we are exporting record amounts of automotive fuels, and have been since 2007. It is not clear however, as there seems to be a general agreement that we need to be weaned off oil, whether the oil companies don't have a pass to keep fuel prices elevated, despite their impact on the economy. It does not surprise me, as part of this nation's defense strategy and with deference to global warming, the government is not taking action to lower fuel prices. In fact when asked, the administration said we are not responsible for the pricing of fuel and will take no action to alter it. Free markets reign. You'd think the Republicans would be thrilled, but somehow they're not, or maybe they're just pretending.