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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow can this be true? Texas made up 43% of total gain in jobs in the country?
I lost my nerness over the years and I can barely figure out a simple math equation. But it just doesn't seem right what this right wing rag says about Rick Perry and jobs. Here is the snap shot and the link is at the bottom. Please someone tell me what is going on?
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Rick Perry and the state of Texas has had a major impact on Obamas net gains in job growth to the tune of 43% according to JP Updates, and the funny thing is Texas only accounts for less than 10% of the total US population:
From the start of February 2009 (Obamas first full month in office) through the end of May 2013 (the last month there is available Federal data for jobs per state) the United States had a net gain of 2,076,000 jobs. In the same time, Texas had a net gain of 882,582 jobs. In other words, 43% of the net job gains since Obamas first full month in office are from Texas. This is a major success for Perry considering that his State has less than 7% of the overall U.S. population.
Those jobs numbers are from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics so there is no room for the Left to argue that the Texas numbers are no good. And the breakdown is as follows:
11,082,548 were employed in Texas at the start of February 2009. The number rose to 11,965,130 at the end of May 2013; a net gain of 882,582 jobs. Nationwide, 133,631,000 (133.63 million) were employed at the start of February 2009, and the number rose to 135.7 million at the end of May; a growth of 2.076 million jobs.
Read more: http://therightscoop.com/rick-perry-texas-responsible-for-almost-50-of-obamas-net-job-growth-since-2009/#ixzz3HJ31lSEe
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)Rick Perry has been going all over the country to especially blue state inviting companies to Texas. I guess some went.
adirondacker
(2,921 posts)There are pockets of the country that are doing ok. TX and Boulder, CO seem to be a couple of hotspots.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)I'm trying to follow their instructions to get to the actual government figures. Who knows, it might just be a "fun with statistics" game.
Here is what that link is asking us to do. I'm going to try it:
A direct link to the nationwide data does not work so here are directions how to get there:
1) http://www.bls.gov/ces/
2) Scroll down to CES Databases and click on the yellow multi screen option.
3) click on seasonally adjusted and then Next
4) click on total nonfarm and then Next
5) click on All Employees, Thousands and then next
6) click on Total nonfarm and then Next
7) click on the data available there and next
8) you have arrived. The numbers in that chart are total nonfarm employees the United States had each month. The monthly jobs reports that we hear about every four weeks, changes the numbers in the chart.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Thus, I'll need something more than JPUpdates.com's word for it.
Maraya1969
(22,441 posts)The economy as of June had gained just over 4.8 million jobs since Obama took office in January 2009. The unemployment rate has declined to 6.1 percent, which is 1.7 points lower than when he took office and 3.9 points lower than it was at its worst point during October 2009.
The economy has not only regained the 4.3 million jobs lost during Obamas first 13 months in office, but also has regained the 4.4 million jobs lost during the 12 months before he entered the White House. Total employment now is at a record high 415,000 jobs higher than the peak number reached before the great recession of 2007-2009.
mythology
(9,527 posts)but also a significant chunk of those jobs are low wage, low skill jobs. Other states have had better luck at growing jobs with liveable wages.
Avalux
(35,015 posts)The companies move in, set up temporary housing for all the workers, and quite literally, overwhelm the closest small town. They don't have the resources to accommodate all the people so there's enormous growth. It might seem great now, but what happens when fracking ends?
dsc
(52,130 posts)Texas didn't have the collapse that much of the rest of the country had so they didn't have the massive job losses. If you were to count from when the recovery for the nation started, instead of after we had already lost well over 2 million jobs, then the numbers would be quite different. I also have to say we have gained a massive number of jobs in the year and a half that is being left out.
Maraya1969
(22,441 posts)end up with 8.7 million job gain.
"The economy has not only regained the 4.3 million jobs lost during Obamas first 13 months in office, but also has regained the 4.4 million jobs lost during the 12 months before he entered the White House. Total employment now is at a record high 415,000 jobs higher than the peak number reached before the great recession of 2007-2009."
Now how does that number compare to Texas's gain of 882,582
I got 10.14%
If I am wrong please tell me and why.
http://members.jacksonville.com/news/2014-07-25/story/obama-record-how-has-he-really-done
http://www.factcheck.org/2011/08/texas-size-recovery/
Summary
Presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry has boasted of significant job growth in his state in the past few years. And for good reason: Its true. While Texas clearly hasnt avoided the recession, the state has done well in terms of increasing jobs, when compared with the recovery nationally.
Perrys claim that 40 percent
of all the jobs in America were created in Texas since June 2009 is accurate. But its also true that the increase in jobs hasnt kept pace with the rise in the states population so the number of jobless Texans also has risen, along with the states unemployment rate. And Texas is tied with Mississippi for the highest percentage of hourly workers paid at or below the minimum wage.
Texas job statistics are a mixed bag. Perrys supporters and Perrys detractors select the statistics that suit their spin. Here well just lay out a balanced look at the facts good and bad alike and leave the spin to others.
Bad Thoughts
(2,514 posts)He just lets it grow.
rogerashton
(3,918 posts)Here is a research paper from a right-wing thinktank that explains -- correctly -- why net job creation numbers should not be taken seriously.
http://www.aei.org/files/2005/12/08/20051208_WP123.pdf
Roselma
(540 posts)and will likely always have many more jobs due to that fact alone. Fact remains, however, that Texas does have a higher unemployment rate than many states. This month's unemployment rates:
http://www.eonline.com/news/591939/marcia-strassman-dead-at-66-actress-starred-in-welcome-back-kotter-and-honey-i-shrunk-the-kids
LeftInTX
(24,560 posts)They go by Perry's quote of 10 years, 33 percent
South Texas has a crazy fracking boom. It's in a low populated area and it isn't opposed by many people.
Gman
(24,780 posts)And Perry had nothing to do with that. someone with a high school education and a CDL can drive a truck in the oil field and make $60/year minimum. If someone's within driving distance of the oil field or wants to stay in the countless RV parks or cottages that have sprung up they can make good money. Yeah it's oil, yeah it's fracking, yeah it's bad for the environment but you also eat and pay for the roof over your head too.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Texas' population is growing much, much faster than other states'.
Prophet 451
(9,796 posts)Firstly, Texas is a state with no minimum wage (just the federal one), minimal business regulations and a virtually non-existent safety net. The first and third make people desperate and teh second makes it attractive for business to move to Texas as Perry has been wooing them to do.
Additionally, most of the jobs created are minimum wage and/or part-time. And the state population is rapidly growing.
Cicada
(4,533 posts)If 25 states each gained one million jobs, one state broke even, and 24 states each lost one million jobs, the net gain would be one million jobs. Each of the 25 states with gais would have 100 percent of the nations job gains. That is how Texas is said to have 43% of the nations job gains.
The job losses stopped in Feb 2010. Since then CA has created 1.5 million new private sector jobs and Texas has created 1.4 million.
eppur_se_muova
(36,227 posts)The national total of gained minus lost is a pretty small number, so any state with positive job growth can claim a large "percentage". Adding up the % growth for the states with the most should get you well above 100%, easily 200%.
renate
(13,776 posts)"How Not to Be Wrong," by Jordan Ellenberg.
It's really interesting and really fun to read, and it answered a question much like yours, although (I guess I'm a pretty bad advertisement for the book) I can't remember the details.
But wait! I found a link:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/how_not_to_be_wrong/2014/06/05/how_not_to_be_wrong_how_to_lie_with_negative_numbers.html
It's more about percentages, whereas your post involves absolute numbers as well as percentages. But I'll still take this opportunity to recommend that book, especially for those of us who like to use facts rather than Fox-type handwaving when we talk about things.
Mister Nightowl
(396 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)The oil companies are ripping Texas apart.
TexasProgresive
(12,148 posts)Republicans like to talk about a "Texas Miracle," in which conservative policies were a magic wand waved over the land that created a mystical utopia. It sounds like quite the tall tale - and that's because it is.
We call it a "Beautiful Disaster."
http://act.progresstexas.org/go/138?t=1&akid=243.15756.3Dbjeu
Falling high school graduation rates, last in the country in health care coverage, at the bottom in voter turnout and at at the bottom in air quality. Texas might need a miracle just to turn things around.
But invoking their best used car salesman skills, Texas Republicans for years have been ignoring these truths, painting over the ugly parts and selling broken policies as new.
We're calling them out for their failed policies.
Check out our long-form post summarizing myths and pointing out that, like so many Republican policies,
http://act.progresstexas.org/go/138?t=2&akid=243.15756.3Dbjeu
it's clear the so-called miracle only extends to GOP insiders, not Texans like you and me.
Early vote continues until Friday, October 31. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4.
Happy voting,
Sincerely,
Phillip Martin
Deputy Director, Progress Texas