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NFP -85K, November Revised From -11K to +4K, Unemployment At 10%, Labor Force Declines

Tyler Durden's picture




From the BLS:

Nonfarm payroll employment edged down (-85,000) in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 10.0 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment fell in construction, manufacturing, and wholesale trade, while temporary help services and health care added jobs.

Household Survey Data

In December, both the number of unemployed persons, at 15.3 million, and the unemployment rate, at 10.0 percent, were unchanged. At the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons was 7.7 million, and the unemployment rate was 5.0 percent. (See table A-1.)

Unemployment rates for the major worker groups--adult men (10.2 percent), adult women (8.2 percent), teenagers (27.1 percent), whites (9.0 percent), blacks (16.2 percent), and Hispanics (12.9 percent)--showed little change in December. The unemployment rate for Asians was 8.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)

Among the unemployed, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) continued to trend up, reaching 6.1 million. In December, 4 in 10 unemployed workers were jobless for 27 weeks or longer. (See table A-9.)

The civilian labor force participation rate fell to 64.6 percent in December. The employment-population ratio declined to 58.2 percent. (See table A-1.)

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was about unchanged at 9.2 million in December and has been relatively flat since March. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job. (See table A-5.)

About 2.5 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force in December, an increase of 578,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for
work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. (See table A-13.)

Among the marginally attached, there were 929,000 discouraged workers in December, up from 642,000 a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.6 million persons marginally attached to the labor force had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.

Establishment Survey Data

Total nonfarm payroll employment edged down in December (-85,000). Job losses continued in construction, manufacturing, and wholesale trade, while temporary help services and health care continued to add jobs. During 2009, monthly job losses moderated substantially. Employment losses in the first quarter of 2009 averaged 691,000 per month, compared with an average loss of 69,000 per month in the fourth quarter. (See table B-1.)

Construction employment declined by 53,000 in December, with job losses throughout the industry. Employment in construction has fallen by 1.6 million since the recession began.

In December, employment in manufacturing decreased by 27,000. The average monthly decline for the last 6 months of 2009 (-41,000) was much lower than the average monthly decline for the first half of the year (-171,000). Since the recession began, manufacturing employment has fallen by 2.1 million; three fourths of this drop occurred in the durable goods component (-1.6 million).

Wholesale trade employment declined by 18,000 in December, with the majority of the decline occurring among durable goods wholesalers. Employment in retail trade was little changed over the month, although general merchandise stores lost 15,000 jobs.

Temporary help services added 47,000 jobs in December. Since reaching a low point in July, temporary help services employment has risen by 166,000.

Health care employment continued to increase in December (22,000), with notable gains in offices of physicians (9,000) and home health care services (8,000). The health care industry has added 631,000 jobs since the recession began.

In December, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.2 hours. The manufacturing workweek, at 40.4 hours, and factory overtime, at 3.4 hours, were unchanged over the month. Since May, the manufacturing workweek has increased by 1.0 hour. (See table B-2.)

In December, average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 3 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $18.80. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.2 percent, while average weekly earnings have risen by 1.9 percent. (See table B-3.)

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for October was revised from -111,000 to -127,000, and the change for November was revised from -11,000 to +4,000.




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Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:41 | Link to Comment AN0NYM0US
AN0NYM0US's picture

Rosie co-host on Bloomberg Radio in the 9am hour http://www.bloomberg.com/audioplayers/playr_owm.html?clipName=Bloomberg%... EST

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:35 | Link to Comment TraderMark
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:42 | Link to Comment Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh's picture

Double-dip in employment.

Report it, MSM.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:50 | Link to Comment Cursive
Cursive's picture

U-3 will have to be 15% and Obama would likely have to be out of office before that would happen.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:54 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

We can dream about a responsible MSM can't we. Unfortunately, just as we have a captured political class, we have a captured 4th estate. In fact, it seems to me the 4th estate has always been "captured" to some extent or another and it's a prerequisite before the political class can be completely subverted.

It's truly amazing how many people think that just because the MSM "breaks" a political or corporate scandal from time to time (and anything you read about those scandals is fact) the 4th estate MUST be doing it's job and the only bad stuff not disclosed is petty in nature. I can't tell you how many times I hear the argument that whistle blowers (and their information) will be widely disseminated in the MSM press. Since there are few (if any) that must mean there is nothing to my assertion that there are fascist conspiracies.

And they accuse me of circular logic.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:08 | Link to Comment B9K9
B9K9's picture

it seems to me the 4th estate has always been "captured" to some extent

CD, you're old enough to remember Viet Nam. Way back then, the NY Times read like Zero Hedge. Anyone remember the 'Pentagon Papers'? Watergate? The plain fact of the matter is that the MSM are now "the pigs".

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:46 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

I used to think this way but have since changed my view as I have dug deeper into these "scandals." My eyes were really opened when we learned who "deep throat" was. Mark Felt has been presented in the press (particularly since his death) as a right minded patriotic citizen who just happened to work for the FBI.

But we need to dig deeper to understand who Nizon's enemies were and who benefited from the Watergate scandal. I'm not saying Nixon was good or bad, I'm simply looking at this thing with the desire to see underneath the sheets. This subject is too long and involved to even begin the discussion here but I suggest you look much further.

The Pentagon Papers is another interesting example of deep politics. I'm not saying in the least that Daniel Ellsberg is/was not a brave and hard working journalist. But that doesn't mean he wasn't being used to release information that could hurt certain people/parties to further other persons/parties goals. The more I dig, the bigger the piles of s**t I dig up. Things are not as the seem on they surface nor even when you peel the first or second layers from the onion.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:04 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 14:19 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

The question is how far down the rabbit hole do you wish to go. I have many theories as to what's going on and a lot of them make sense. What I wrote about above was what I felt I could prove based upon publicly released and acknowledged documentation as well as legally admissible testimony or trial transcripts. The Church committee hearings and documents, while themselves obscured with parts buried and never released, are also a treasure trove of information.

The problem is that when talking to a population that is (for the most part) asleep at the wheel, you must gently wake them. Otherwise you are turned off and ignored. Regardless of how much I censor myself, if my goal is to awaken, I must play by the rules of the asleep. If I startle too much, they go back to sleep and then I defeat the purpose I had for shaking them awake. Sometimes baby steps are all I can take with some people, as frustrating and unfair as that might be.

Even the alarm clock must be practical when ringing. Too loud and it gets thrown across the room and ignored. Too soft and it's ignored. Years of practice shows me that I must be careful when ringing if my goal is to awaken.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 14:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 15:06 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

"well keep doing what you are doing but just realize that the rabbit hole is deep"

Maybe you didn't read my entire post but stopped at the first sentence. I didn't say I wasn't interested in going deeply down the rabbit hole nor that I didn't understand how deep it goes nor that I had not seen the bottom. I've been on this path since the late 70's and nothing you're telling me is news to me.

When talking to people about these subjects, if they even wish to look further, they are interested in seeing documents that support what I'm saying, not opinion. This is why when speaking publicly as I'm doing now, I only talk about what I can support.

I was talking about spreading information to others who are not aware of what's going on and who would consider all the information coming at them as very alarming and shut down. I was talking about the methods I use to wake people up who would otherwise shut down if I come on too strong. You might wish to consider my methods if you want to be more effective.

Sat, 01/09/2010 - 03:32 | Link to Comment Rick64
Rick64's picture

 I would be interested in hearing more about what is really going on behind the scenes. I understand what you're saying about shocking people too much, but if there is documentation, proof or even a plausible theory I would relish the opportunity to explore it. I'm not totally naive or easily shocked.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:23 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:01 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

This speech is at the top of my browser "favorites" and is played monthly. In fact, my personal investigation of the JFK assassination has been truly mind blowing. Again, I won't go into detail but I wish to ask one question.

Why is it that most of the details regarding the "official" (the Warren Commission in particular) and unofficial governmental investigations are still under lock and key despite the 50 year time limit having passed? Oh sure, there's a trickle here and there as some documents are released. But the bulk is still hidden from public view. Why?

Because it's not the names they are hiding but the methods used and the governmental agencies involved in the political assassination that was billed as perpetrated by a lone wolf assassin. God bless all those lone wolves out there. America loves to believe it's always the lone wolf that does the dirty work of others.  

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:16 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 14:29 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

I have 10 fingers and 10 toes so after 20 I'm lost. The only reason I registered with ZH was to get away form the CAPTCHA.

Actually I was writing and thinking about something else (another example of another investigation of another assassination) when I wrote 50 years. Then I changed the example and edited and didn't change the number of years. But I find it intersting that of all I wrote, including the subject material, you focus on that misstatement.

So does that mean that because I am wrong about the 50 years, that everything I said is wrong? That's usually the technique used by the propagandists and myth keepers to "debunk" people who stray away from the consensus group think.

Say it ain't so anon, say it ain't so.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 14:37 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 17:50 | Link to Comment WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

Hunter S. Thompson suicide note, titled:

"Football Season Is Over

 

No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun — for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax — This won't hurt."

There must! be something to this...

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 18:45 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

I might argue that suicide is a rational response to a totally irrational, psychopathic and increasingly dangerous (environmentally, emotionally, economically etc) society/world. I actually read an online article along these lines a few months ago and I'm still kicking myself for not printing or saving it.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:29 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 14:38 | Link to Comment Screwball
Screwball's picture

I have always been a scandal/conspiracy nut.  I never bought into the Oswald lone nut theory.  Read many books and everything I could find on the web.  The more I read, the more I was convinced we were being bullshitted.

About 3 or 4 years ago I was in Dallas on business so I went to the museum.  I spent about 3 hours there, inside and out.  They have the snipers window (and corner) boxed in with glass, boxes and all like they would have been that day.  I then walked all over Dealy Plaza, the overpass, the grassy knoll, and behind the fence.

First, if the shots came from the 6th floor and hit the President where the "X" (the first shot) is painted in the road (how accurate they are placed would be a question) does not add up at all.  This bullet, which was suppose to be the "magic bullet" went through Kennedy's neck, into Connelly and so on, is not even close.  The height from the sniper's window looking down on the "X" is way to steep.  If the shot went in the back of his neck, the bullet would have went through the floor of the car, not the front of his neck, unless of course it hit something to change direction, like a bone. But this was the CE399 pristine bullet.  The trajectory drawings you see  are pretty flat, so I ain't buying the official story on this alone.

From behind the fence on the grassy knoll, you could use a pistol.  It's that close.  Close enough I could probably hit him and I'm not a marksman by any streach, but sure as hell an assassin could.  The entire plaza is not as big as it looks on TV, which was one of the things that surprised me.  Along with more security than an airport.  Why?  Are they afraid someone might find something?  I don't have the answers, but I sure ain't buying what their telling.

FWIW, one of the books I read implicated Alexander Haig as Deep Throat as well.  I think it was John Dean, not that I believe him either.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 14:59 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 23:49 | Link to Comment Screwball
Screwball's picture

Not saying Dean was deep throat, but his book fingered Haig.  The head shot to Kennedy could be a pistol shot from the fence on the knoll.  It is that close. 

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 23:59 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Sat, 01/09/2010 - 09:49 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:44 | Link to Comment john_connor
john_connor's picture

Looks like they didn't want to blow rates out of the water with the heavy debt issuance next week.

Equities look slightly soft following the number.  I'm looking for the dip buying brigade to jump in after an initial small drop and then massive distribution rest of day.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:53 | Link to Comment Leo Kolivakis
Leo Kolivakis's picture

Good point, also when you think about it, who the hell hires in December? My mistake!!!! I still expect significant hiring in Q1 2010, but this was a soft report. With ISM new orders surging and profits coming back, firms will start hiring again. As for stocks, buy any dip.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:59 | Link to Comment docj
docj's picture

Sure, firms will start hiring again - just in time for the second shoe (CRE) to drop like an anvil.

So perhaps we've hit "bottom" on jobs (best case, I think).  Problem is we can probably linger here quite some time, no?

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:04 | Link to Comment Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

Zactly, have hit bottom or close thereto, and will simply bounce along.  There will be no resumption of "business as usual" for as far as the eye can see. There is a lot of crack smoking going on with the Kool-Aid Propaganda Crowd, and it's getting old and tired. 

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:10 | Link to Comment God
God's picture

Good, I have instructed my prodigy at Goldman to ease CL up to $120/barrel over the next 3 months.

I hope you are all ready. The 90% employed are getting too spendthrifty. Saving is unGodly.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:16 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

I always figured I would talk to God when there was a reasonable chance s/he would respond. Here's my chance. Now, what to ask? Let's see. I could ask what's the meaning of life? Or why do innocent children come down with cancer? Oh, I've go it.

How's the weather up there God?

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:02 | Link to Comment God
God's picture

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:30 | Link to Comment swmnguy
swmnguy's picture

Thanks for the Heads-Up, God.

By the way, have you seen my keys?  I'm in a hurry and I can't find them anywhere...

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:14 | Link to Comment docj
docj's picture

All I know is basically what I see day-to-day.  I work in strategy for a software company that sells high-end simulation (think FEA, CFD, etc.) software globally to just about every industry you can think of - the very people you'd expect to lead us out of depression and into recovery - the companies who are almost certainly going to be the first to invest in new tools, new people, and new ideas.

Know what I'm seeing?

Nothing.

Flat. Stinking. Nothing.

We're managing to grow since Fall '08 by taking some business from our competition, we're seeing absoltutely no organic growth in our sectors - we're taking a larger percentage of a shrinking pie.

I'm seeing anything other than "Business as Usual", in other words.

Anecdote, not data of course, but it's really hard for me to swallow the hopium when I get this sort of cold, wet, smelly blanket thrown on me every single day.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:44 | Link to Comment BoeingSpaceliner797
BoeingSpaceliner797's picture

@186692

Perhaps U-3 has hit bottom (although I doubt it and agree with your characterization of that as "best case").  We have a long way to go before a bottom is formed in true unemployment/underemployment (pick U-6 or SGS), IMO.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:07 | Link to Comment Internet Tough Guy
Internet Tough Guy's picture

Buy any dip. I haven't heard that since pets.com.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:57 | Link to Comment You Cant Handle...
You Cant Handle the Truth's picture

Hey that talking puppet thing was adorable.  Who'd have thought that wouldn't be enough?

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:28 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:51 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

As for stocks, buy any dip.

NOT. The US stock market, maybe indeed the entire world's, are a massive Ponzi Scheme just waiting to implode at this point.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 13:19 | Link to Comment john_connor
john_connor's picture

Yes, the "waterfall effect" to resume shortly.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:46 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:48 | Link to Comment Wondering
Wondering's picture

Not only do only 19-25 percent of CEO's (depending on the survey) indicate they have hiring plans for 2010, a look at the following factors does not yield reasons to be optimistic about hiring prospects:

S&P balance sheets reveal that although cash has gone up....debt has increased 2.7 times the increase in cash from all the expense reduction efforts to date. In other words, most companies are at great risk and need to manage cash tightly...for interest rates may increase and or revenues may drop....leaving them very vulnerable. Hiring in the face of that vise is outright foolish.

In addition the cap ex expenditures projected for 2010 are very very low...and that translates into a lot less jobs from suppliers.

The real estate market shows no reason to think that construction jobs will be booming

Retail did as well as it did only via low inventory. Low inventory means less temp workers in the pick, pack ship operations and less fork lift drivers and less warehouse workers. Black Friday has its name because its the point at which retailers cross over into the black. That means the industry will run headcount very low as well.

Auto sales show no reason to think they will be hiring.

Consumers are buying less...so thats a lot less business and personal services. Their wages, hours, jobs, homes and credit are all shrinking and likely to shrink

All in all it is hard to even make a plausable case for increased hiring

 

 

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:28 | Link to Comment B9K9
B9K9's picture

Leo, Leo, Leo, what are we going to do with you? Haven't you read any of the top-level macro analyses floating around the ether? Here's the essence of our global problem characterized in one simple pseudo-equation:

(Economic) Wealth = Energy Utility X Productive Efficiency

Governments and central banks can play all the games they want managing public opinion and manipulating the People's expectations, but at the end of the day, they are regular folks, just like the rest of us, who have to deal with the same iron clad rules of nature we all face.

Unless we either find new, affordable & accessible supplies of energy, and/or discover some miraculous solution(s) that revolutionize existing economic efficiencies, we simply do not possess the necessary means of production sufficient to pyramid additional layers of debt to propel continuing fractional reserve lending cycles.

This is all anyone needs to know. All the rest is just noise - signifying nothing. Uncle Ben can print all he wants, and the One can promote endless (government) hiring & wealth re-distribution programs, but at the end of the day, good 'ole Newtonian physics close the bar.

Unless we (ie humanity) come up with something pretty damn quick, the temporary facades we see all around us that go by such names as ' USA' are just ephemeral labels used to pacify the masses.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:31 | Link to Comment Sancho Ponzi
Sancho Ponzi's picture

How about this?

The earth's temperature increases with depth at about 25-30 deg C per kilometer. As we have the technology to drill sideways as well as down, why not drill a boatload of U shaped holes and circulate water through the casing? Radioactive decay is primarily responsible for the warming, and the sheer mass around the casing will keep the temperature high. Steam, baby.

http://www.geothermal-energy.org/314,what_is_geothermal_energy.html

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 13:26 | Link to Comment swmnguy
swmnguy's picture

Indeed, as Someone Else might say, "Steam, Bitches."

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 17:02 | Link to Comment B9K9
B9K9's picture

Sancho, the reason I'm not a 'peak oil' doomer is because I believe human ingenuity can solve many problems. Rather than focus on the energy side of the equation, I think the real breakthroughs will result from productive efficiencies.

Riddle me this: why are we 6ft tall? Why not 3ft tall? We no longer have to fear predators; (genetically) reducing our size would halve our footprint. It may seem farfetched right now, but track out a few hundred years. As energy sources dissipate, but technological insights accelerate, who knows what solutions may be found?

Ultimately, however, these types of advances require massive sources of capital investment, and enough cushion to weather the typical 100+:1 loss ratios. Right now, we are simply eating our collective 'seed corn' to pay off certain political constituencies. It is these voters blocks who must be assuaged with continued salaries, benefits & health coverage to keep the current gang in power.

Thus the games with the Fed, Administration, Congress & MSM.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:44 | Link to Comment perchprism
perchprism's picture

Leo:

Alright, so a "good point" is the conjecture that the job report was lowballed to prevent a rise in interest rates just ahead of next week's massive auction...

Tell me what exactly is "good" about fudging numbers deliberately to game a result, when we're talking about our government?  What has happened to America?

Michelle Obama said that for the first time, she was proud of her country.  I can say, this past year, at age 50, for the first time I am not proud of my country.

 

 

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:35 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:46 | Link to Comment Cursive
Cursive's picture

The November revision broke the string of consecutive job losses!  Green shoots.  I guess Mr. Kolivakis and others will tell us this was a better-than-expected report and we should buy, buy, buy.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:49 | Link to Comment Ivanovich
Ivanovich's picture

Until Nov is revised again next month to negative, just like October took a hit this month.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:50 | Link to Comment Shocker
Shocker's picture

Yes we added JOBS in November, Excellent... I'm so excited, be back going to the mall to celebrate :-)

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:11 | Link to Comment LoneStarHog
LoneStarHog's picture

Positive?  The Bogus Birth/Death Model ADDED for November THIRTY THOUSAND PHANTOM JOBS.

Positive my ass!

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:49 | Link to Comment ChickenTeriyakiBoy
ChickenTeriyakiBoy's picture

will they jam those census workers into the payroll numbers before state of the union?

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:49 | Link to Comment jedwards
jedwards's picture

I'm kind of disappointed that the numbers weren't good because I can no longer complain that the government is manipulating the numbers.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:52 | Link to Comment A_MacLaren
A_MacLaren's picture

Sometimes honesty does happen, even from the Bureau of Lying Statistics

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:53 | Link to Comment Commander Cody
Commander Cody's picture

And you are presuming they aren't?  I no longer believe anything due to the SPIN epidemic.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:02 | Link to Comment Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

You're assuming it wasn't worse than reported, after some data massaging.  What happens now is the January cleanout as businesses are again forced to downsize.  Leo - you're smoking crack, buddy! What you meant to also say is that there is strong motivation to NOT fire or layoff in December - simple human feeling that the holidays are not a time to do layoffs if only because of morale problems among those who survive.  Right now, NO ONE IS HIRING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. That is reality.  The responsible thing to do is to hunker down for this quarter at the very least.  Dude, get your head straight on this.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:44 | Link to Comment bbbilly1326
bbbilly1326's picture

amen NZ.

 

I think ZeroHedge's L.K. (Leo Kolivakis) = CNBC's L.K. (Larry Krudlow) (sic)

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:47 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:44 | Link to Comment Cindy_Dies_In_T...
Cindy_Dies_In_The_End's picture

I can only agree with Ned with 2 anecdotes: A lady who worked over 22 years at a storage company was fired yesterday so the owners could keep cutting costs; I have no intentions on hiring anyone until MAYBE the end of this year, and more likely than not, anyone I do hire will ne P/Ted or 1099ed. I'm not overly optimistic about hiring at all, but we'll see.

 

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:56 | Link to Comment trillion_dollar...
trillion_dollar_deficit's picture

Exactly what I was thinking.

Needless to say, I'm stunned by the report. How could TPTB allow Obama to go into the SotUA with such a large negative print?

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:06 | Link to Comment deadhead
deadhead's picture

because the real print is probably a larger negative number.

 

additionally, because it is so bad, gives fodder to obama and the dems to:

1. move forward with more deficit spending

2. move forward with "jobs" program (next in line, green tech mfring)

2A. move forward with cap and trade to generate tax revenue to fund 2. 

3. move forward with more unemployment insurance as part of the Dem campaign fund for Nov, a particular hottie for President in Charge Rahm. (speaking of that, what the hell is going on with noted US Attorney Mr. Fitzgerald in Chicago???????)

4. move forward with health care reform because it will save so much money that the deficit and national debt is likely to disappear in a few years.

 

 

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:18 | Link to Comment jedwards
jedwards's picture

Guys, let's be real here.

a) If the numbers were good, then they are manipulating the numbers up so that the markets continue to go up.

b) If the numbers are bad, then they are hiding an even worse number.

You can't have it both ways!  If you initially thought they were going to manipulate the numbers up, then after this report you can't claim that the numbers are worse and they are hiding it.

That is intellectually dishonest.  You are basically bullshitting yourself, and manipulating everything to fit what you want to see.  If you want to believe that the government is manipulating numbers, then just say so with a blanket statement "I don't give a fuck what they say, it's all bullshit."  But coming up with these elaborate scenarios that fit your views is a joke.

I personally thought that they were going to manipulate the numbers up.  Unfortunately, I bought into that last article where the numbers could be +300k.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:32 | Link to Comment swmnguy
swmnguy's picture

Good point.  As for myself, "I don't give a fuck what they say, it's all bullshit."

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:59 | Link to Comment Wondering
Wondering's picture

I am lost.

I think its perfectly reasonable to think that whatever reality really is...the estimates (and thats all they are...estimates of what is going on out there) are:

a) Honestly overstated at this time and will be corrected later as data becomes clearer

b) optimistically forecast at the edge of optimisim (as was the BLS methodology for 2009 which they now indicate was overstated by 840,000 during the year 2009)

c) Cleverly stated to the edge of believeability for the purposes of the politicians in charge

d) Outright manipulated

e) Understated and things are really better than anyone things or can triangulate with other data

I do not see why the two statements are not very plasubaly true

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:12 | Link to Comment mule65
mule65's picture

Weak NFP = more printing = weak dollar = strong stocks/commodities/gold/real estate.

When does the printing stop?

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:54 | Link to Comment perchprism
perchprism's picture

 

Excuse me, excuse me everybody---ADP announced earlier this week that the private employment sector lost 84,000 jobs in Dec. : 

 http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2010/01/04/daily36.html

Please take one minute to click the link and read it for yourself. 

 

Today the BLS confirmed the ADP report. There was nothing "unexpected".  ADP has a monopoly on paychecks, and ought to know what the deal is.

 

 

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 13:27 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:52 | Link to Comment Winisk
Winisk's picture

I can hear it now.

"We are making a slow recovery...blah blah...not as fast as we would like...blah blah...heroic Fed and government intervention is working...blah blah...we need to work harder...blah blah...more stimulus...blah blah...create more jobs...blah blah blah blah..."

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:54 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

Unless, of course, the actual losses were much, much more.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:51 | Link to Comment MiningJunkie
MiningJunkie's picture

ATLAS IS SHRUGGING...

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 09:59 | Link to Comment Stuart
Stuart's picture

Go ahead boys, jack those interest rates up.  Lets see if we can add 3-5% more to that unemployment rate.  Oh ya, make double sure you, Uncle Sam, is now the biggest debtor before you jack them higher, just for added effect.  

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:15 | Link to Comment D.M. Ryan
D.M. Ryan's picture

Looks like a certain Fed bank president is not going to be heard from much in the coming days...

"Hoenig, why don't you just stick a sock in it?"

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:02 | Link to Comment trillion_dollar...
trillion_dollar_deficit's picture

Birth/Death number anyone?

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:07 | Link to Comment deadhead
deadhead's picture

The biggie will come early Feb.

It will not be a minus, I've got it in for a surprise addition of a couple of hundred thousand.

have a peachy keen day!

Rahm

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:13 | Link to Comment Oso
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:04 | Link to Comment Stuart
Stuart's picture

"About 2.5 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force in December, an increase of 578,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey"

Little Johnny was signed up for 7 subjects in grade 12.  Even though he didn't record a single mark for any of these subject,  they were not counted as failures because he made no attempt to show up for any class and write any exam.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:13 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:05 | Link to Comment jobless_recover...
jobless_recoveriless_BS's picture

They needed this number to rebuff higher interest rate preassure on FED. Their job is like rope-walking. If they give too much optimism, then there will be more pressure for interest rate increase. If they tell the truth, stock market and the banks will be toast. Tough job. That's why Tim and Ben look like rope acrobats.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:15 | Link to Comment Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

2010's bladerunners, snails walking on the edge of a razor blade

do Timmah and Ben dream of electric sheep?

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:09 | Link to Comment Sancho Ponzi
Sancho Ponzi's picture

Tim's got 30 year treasuries to sell next week, so he needs to downplay any signs of recovery.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:11 | Link to Comment Bearish Spirits
Bearish Spirits's picture

So manufacturing employment decreased 27k...didn't the ISM Manufacturing Index give an employment reading of ~54 or so?

That's a contradiction, isn't it?  I wonder who needs to change their survey methods...

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:16 | Link to Comment Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

ISM numbers less reliable than BLS and almost as bad as any "consumer sentiment" index.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:11 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:19 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:23 | Link to Comment D.M. Ryan
D.M. Ryan's picture

And, in related news, the greenback tanked; gold shot up. So did Treasuries.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:31 | Link to Comment Lndmvr
Lndmvr's picture

Hope they can get that balance transfer done concerning the debt limit.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:37 | Link to Comment virgilcaine
virgilcaine's picture

How can  a recession be over if Economy is losing Jobs? anyone.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:47 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

Because the US Govt. says so?

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:48 | Link to Comment Cindy_Dies_In_T...
Cindy_Dies_In_The_End's picture

Its supposed to be a "lagging indicator".

 

Its a Depression, BTW.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:46 | Link to Comment Gordon_Gekko
Gordon_Gekko's picture

I expect huge job gains (even higher than the number posted on Zero Hedge) with substantial upward revisions to the previous reports. I also expect the greenback and crude to rally but gold will get hammered on the news.


---Leo Kolivakis

HAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHHAHAA. Sorry Leo, I know it's cruel but couldn't resist.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:03 | Link to Comment Internet Tough Guy
Internet Tough Guy's picture

Nice to have a raving bull/true believer on board to tell us what the public is thinking.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:43 | Link to Comment jobless_recover...
jobless_recoveriless_BS's picture

And Leo also thinks Greece is not in bad shape at all. I admire his optimism.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:54 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 13:29 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 10:54 | Link to Comment You Cant Handle...
You Cant Handle the Truth's picture

These statistics are lovingly coated in fudge.

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 11:56 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:02 | Link to Comment BoeingSpaceliner797
BoeingSpaceliner797's picture

From the BLS web site (FAQs):

An over-the-month employment change of 107,000 is statistically significant in the establishment survey, while the threshold for a statistically significant change in the household survey is about 400,000.

So, by their own standards both the November and December 2009 NFP numbers are statistically insignificant.  BTW, I am in agreement that, based on the explanation of the BLS seasonal adjustment models provided in the Stifel Nicholaus article the other day, the actual job losses for December were probably far worse.  (Note:  I did not parse the actual Dec 2009 report for the actual seasonal adjustments made.)  

Fri, 01/08/2010 - 13:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 14:02 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Fri, 01/08/2010 - 14:13 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Sat, 01/09/2010 - 03:48 | Link to Comment Rick64
Rick64's picture

Jesus Christ. I need an algorithm just to figure out the unemployment number. They need to pass some legislation on how many times this number can be revised, adjusted, spun, ect..

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