Are drug dealers counted as unemployed?

[Recursion]

The threads about the various ways the number of unemployed are counted made me wonder: are people who deal drugs or have other illegal (or even just under-the-table) jobs counted among the unemployed? And illegal vs. under the table may well be two different questions. What about hit men? (Does anybody have that as a full time job?) Or car thieves?

(Obviously plenty of drug dealers have day jobs, but many don't; where do they fit in with these numbers?)

[dmallind]

1. Depends how they answer the BLS survey

Organized crime soldiers tend to have at least fake jobs but not sure how less structured criminals would answer the question "are you employed" let alone "is it FT or PT" but that's all that matters. they and everybody else are not asked WHAT job they have, only if they have one.

[Recursion]

2. Is that the "Household" survey?

I think I've been getting them all mixed up recently. Is there an "Unemployment Rates for Simpletons" page anywhere?

[AlabamaLibrul]

5. A link/ some info

Why are there two monthly measures of employment?

The household survey and establishment survey both produce sample-based estimates of employment and both have strengths and limitations. The establishment survey employment series has a smaller margin of error on the measurement of month-to-month change than the household survey because of its much larger sample size. An over-the-month employment change of about 100,000 is statistically significant in the establishment survey, while the threshold for a statistically significant change in the household survey is about 400,000. However, the household survey has a more expansive scope than the establishment survey because it includes the self-employed, unpaid family workers, agricultural workers, and private household workers, who are excluded by the establishment survey. The household survey also provides estimates of employment for demographic groups.

They have stats and FAQs and info at http://www.bls.gov/ces

[Recursion]

7. Thank you!

:hi:

[dmallind]

6. right here

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm

[FSogol]

3. Only if they are currently using State, local, or Federal resources to find a job. n/t

[Recursion]

4. I need to find the handy summary from somewhere

As I understand it, there are various ways of counting who has a job, and various ways of counting who doesn't have a job, and those two questions are the responsibilities of different agencies.

[Statistical]

11. Not true. UI benefits or assistance has nothing to do with unemployment rates. n/t

[walldude]

8. Funny story... the guy I used to get my weed from

went out of business because of all the legal Medical Marijuana places that have popped up in Colorado. He's looking for new ways to distribute.

[Blue_Tires]

9. "Independent businessmen"?

[rocktivity]

10. Well, their income is taxable

As Al Capone could have told you.

:headbang:
rocktivity