The Two Labor Market Surveys

The Unemployment rate is a vital statistic in Economics, and always debatable, because of the differect Accounting procedures. There is no doubt, though, of a horrific job loss since the beginning of the Bush administration. A possible half of this loss can be attributed to events outside the economic arena, but at least half must be attributed to poor administration policy; this policy assuring Profitability to Corporate enterprise, even within falling Productivity and Sales. This cushions Stockholder dividends from shock, and maintains the current Pay Benefits packages for Management. The trouble arises in it allows for Downsizing, even at the cost of Sales and Productivity. Business has been quick to utilize this avenue.

The most important element for Economic performance is maintenance and increase of Consumer Demand. This is totally dependent upon Household Income. The real disaster facing the current Economy lies in the real losses of Household Income, due to overall loss of jobs; but equally as well, extreme loss of Middle-Income jobs through downsizing. Recovery of these Middle-Income jobs are elemental for improved economic performance. lgl

Does the IRS ever try to estimate employment based on the data they have? They ought to be able to track (albeit with a greater time lag) self-employment rates with tax returns.

Even if the IRS figures would lag too far in time to track short-term trends they'd be a useful tool with which to calibrate other methods of tracking employment.