People tend to focus on the wrong numbers. Here is an example of a number that one should be considered:
There are currently 132,409,000 nonfarm employees. In December of 2000 there were 132,481,000 employees. How's that for job growth? -- Michael Shedlock, Global Economic Trend Analysis blog
The chart tells us of a great change in the American work force-women entering it in record numbers. Right now we have a different factor going on the gentrification of America as the Baby Boomers age. We have returned to the workforce participation of 1982. Of course there are temporary factors like the person who realizes that there are no jobs to be had and they quit looking. Maybe they could make this into a game show?
Here is the number you should focus on, the true unemployment rate:
The true unemployment rate is 15.1%.