Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Jobs Report Mediocre, But You May Find Work Serving Food Or Changing Bedpans?
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 7, 2012
Modified Sep 7, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 7, 2012
Modified Sep 7, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Obama's mildly arousing speech at the Democratic National Convention last night has been followed by the sad trombone of the August employment report, which failed to live up to expectations. The nationwide unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July, but that's just because the government doesn't count people who've been futilely looking for a job for so long that they've now given up to devote their time to volunteer work commenting on websites.
U.S. employers added 96,000 jobs last month, but cut 15,000 manufacturing jobs (the Daily Beast blames this on a "statistical quirk"). Worse, the Labor Department also revised downward the hiring report from previous months. 41,000 fewer jobs were created in July and June than initially estimated, and there have been just 139,000 jobs a month added since the start of the year, below 2011's average of 153,000.
12.5 million Americans remain unemployed—again, that doesn't include those who've stopped looking. The number of people in the work force dropped to its lowest level in 31 years, and hourly pay also fell. Have you given your employer a box of chocolate and a foot massage lately? Would a happy ending really kill you?
To be sure, it's not all depressing news. According to the Labor Department, employment increased in restaurants, catering, and bars; in professional and technical services; and in health care. Rich people still need to wine and dine, and sometimes they need help fixing their new iPads, or a sponge bath when they're hospitalized recovering from plastic surgery. "There's no sign of momentum fading," Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, told the AP. "That said, it's not much better. ... What you're left with is an economy that's still growing, but pretty modestly."
Of course, what's bad for America is good for Mitt Romney, who immediately released a statement saying, "After 43 straight months of unemployment above 8 percent, it is clear that President Obama just hasn't lived up to his promises and his policies haven't worked. We aren't better off than they were four years ago. My plan for a stronger middle class will create 12 million new jobs by the end of my first term. America deserves new leadership that will get our economy moving again." There he goes again.
The Obama administration countered with this statement, saying, "While there is more work that remains to be done, today’s employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to recover from the worst downturn since the Great Depression. It is critical that we continue the policies that are building an economy that works for the middle class as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007."
Tagged
economy
election 12
employment
jobs
obama
Unemployment
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .