Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mathematic

(1,617 posts)
18. No, No, No, No. You do not need 150k jobs to keep up with the pop. That rule of thumb is wrong.
Fri May 8, 2026, 10:41 AM
Friday

I have no idea why people have kept saying this for decades despite being absolutely, 100% wrong.

You do not need 150k jobs per month to keep up with population. This isn't true. It's not a good rule of thumb.

Last month the entire population change was 97k. That's not the increase in the working age population. That's the entire population considered for these statistics (over 16, civilian non-institutionalized).

People retire. Unless you want to put retired people to work, the participation rate is going to remain near or at historical lows until people start dying at 70 again.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I'm sure in a couple months, this jobs report will be revised to be significantly lower. bearsfootball516 Friday #1
All I hear about is all the layoffs. Honestly, these numbers are NOT good news. Ferrets are Cool Friday #2
115,000 is a bad report Johnny2X2X Friday #3
Exactly Farmer-Rick Friday #12
I remember when the bar was 150,000 Skittles Friday #29
It's not really terrible, more like mediocre. For Trump though it is one of his best months. Wiz Imp Friday #32
Well Medicaid is set to be destroyed after the midterms, so healthcare facilities travelingthrulife Friday #19
Do we know if these are honest numbers or more lies? Irish_Dem Friday #4
Are their lips moving RoseTrellis Friday #5
This is my assuming on anything coming from the US govt now. Irish_Dem Friday #10
LNB numbers bucolic_frolic Friday #6
We know how honest and competent they are. Irish_Dem Friday #11
That'll be adjusted down by 200K in four months. Scrivener7 Friday #7
Those are not good numbers.............. Lovie777 Friday #8
I do not trust a damn thing coming from this administration. CousinIT Friday #9
If Biden had those numbers the media would be doc03 Friday #13
LOL. Strong? PSPS Friday #14
No, No, No, No. You do not need 150k jobs to keep up with the pop. That rule of thumb is wrong. mathematic Friday #18
Are you also saying it was true for Democrats but not Trump? displacedvermoter Friday #20
Literally have no idea why you would think I said that. mathematic Friday #21
Ok displacedvermoter Friday #22
Not being the statistician as you I quickly looked up what the Fed said displacedvermoter Friday #23
Contrary to the opinion of others, you're not really wrong. Wiz Imp Friday #31
The more disturbiing trend... OhioBack2Blue Friday #15
"Profits are growing without people." LudwigPastorius Friday #26
Do the jobs numbers include H1Bs? jmbar2 Friday #16
Yes Wiz Imp Friday #30
When Rebl2 Friday #17
This is why the media is not trusted. SamuelAdams Friday #24
_ LudwigPastorius Friday #25
We are most likely in a recession Bluestocking Friday #27
With all the layoffs that we do hearr about, we are expected to believe niyad Friday #28
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»US employers defy economi...»Reply #18