Question

The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts as employed people who work part-time, but would prefer to work full-time. Suppose the people who had part-time jobs, but wanted full-time jobs, were counted as unemployed. Explain how the unemployment rate and the labor force participation rate would change.

Answer 1

Answer:

The labor participation rate would not change because it counts the labor force as a percentage of the total adult population, and the labor force includes both the number of people employed and the number of people unemployed, so, even if those working part-time were counted as unemployed by the BLS, they would still be part of the Labor Force.

The labor participation rate formula is:

Labor Participation Rate = (Labor Force / Total Adult Population) x 100

The unemployment rate would indeed change, because it counts the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labor force. If those working part-time were counted as unemployed by the BLS, the number of people unemployed would obviously spike.

The formula is:

Unemployment Rate = (Number of Unemployed / Labor Force) x 100