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1. Measuring employment, unemployment, and labor force participation Consider a

ID: 1162837 • Letter: 1

Question

1. Measuring employment, unemployment, and labor force participation

Consider a small economy composed of six people: Musashi, Rina, Sean, Yvette, Cho, and Bob. Each person's employment status is described in the following table.

Based on the criteria used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), identify each person’s status as employed, unemployed, “not in the labor force” (if not in the civilian labor force but still part of the adult population), or “not in the adult population” if not in the civilian adult population.

Complete the right half of the following equation to reflect the labor force participation rate reported by the BLS.

According to this formula, what is the labor force participation rate of this economy of six people?

40%

50%

80%

100%

Complete the right half of the following equation to reflect the unemployment rate reported by the BLS.

According to this formula, what is the unemployment rate of this economy of six people?

40%

50%

80%

100%

Person Status Musashi is a 24-year-old professional tennis player. When he's not competing, he works as a coach at a local tennis club. Rina is a 30-year-old professional basketball player. She finished her last season as a player 3 weeks ago and is currently interviewing for a coaching position. Sean is a 77-year-old retired professor. He enjoys volunteering at the local public library. Cho is a 31-year-old science teacher who taught at West Valley Middle School last year. Due to budget cuts, she was laid off at the end of the school year. It's the summer now, and after a few weeks of vacation with her family, she is looking for a part-time job as a tutor. Bob is a 20-year-old American Studies major at the University of Tennessee. It's summer now, and he is working as a lifeguard in Mobile, Alabama. Yvette is a 12-year-old student at West Valley Middle School. She babysits her younger sister and does other chores, so her parents give her an allowance of $25 per week.

Explanation / Answer

Measuring employment, unemployment, and labor force participation

Consider a small economy composed of six people: Musashi, Rina, Sean, Yvette, Cho, and Bob. Each person's employment status is described in the following table.

Based on the criteria used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), identify each person’s status as employed, unemployed, “not in the labor force” (if not in the civilian labor force but still part of the adult population), or “not in the adult population” if not in the civilian adult population.

Person

Status

Musashi is a 24-year-old professional tennis player. When he's not competing, he works as a coach at a local tennis club.

Employed

Rina is a 30-year-old professional basketball player. She finished her last season as a player 3 weeks ago and is currently interviewing for a coaching position.

UNEMPLOYED

Sean is a 77-year-old retired professor. He enjoys volunteering at the local public library.

Not in the labour force

Cho is a 31-year-old science teacher who taught at West Valley Middle School last year. Due to budget cuts, she was laid off at the end of the school year. It's the summer now, and after a few weeks of vacation with her family, she is looking for a part-time job as a tutor.

UNEMPLOYED

Bob is a 20-year-old American Studies major at the University of Tennessee. It's summer now, and he is working as a lifeguard in Mobile, Alabama.

Employed

Yvette is a 12-year-old student at West Valley Middle School. She babysits her younger sister and does other chores, so her parents give her an allowance of $25 per week.

Not in the adult population

Labor Force Participation Rate = Number in Labour Force/Adult Population*100

Labour Force = Employed + Unemployed

Adult Population = 05

Number in Labour Force = 04

According to this formula, what is the labor force participation rate of this economy of six people?

Labor Force Participation Rate = 04/05*100

Labor Force Participation Rate = 80%

Unemployment Rate = Unemployed/Labour Force*100

According to this formula, what is the unemployment rate of this economy of six people?

Unemployment Rate = Unemployed/Labour Force*100

Unemployment Rate = 02/04*100

Unemployment Rate = 50%

Person

Status

Musashi is a 24-year-old professional tennis player. When he's not competing, he works as a coach at a local tennis club.

Employed

Rina is a 30-year-old professional basketball player. She finished her last season as a player 3 weeks ago and is currently interviewing for a coaching position.

UNEMPLOYED

Sean is a 77-year-old retired professor. He enjoys volunteering at the local public library.

Not in the labour force

Cho is a 31-year-old science teacher who taught at West Valley Middle School last year. Due to budget cuts, she was laid off at the end of the school year. It's the summer now, and after a few weeks of vacation with her family, she is looking for a part-time job as a tutor.

UNEMPLOYED

Bob is a 20-year-old American Studies major at the University of Tennessee. It's summer now, and he is working as a lifeguard in Mobile, Alabama.

Employed

Yvette is a 12-year-old student at West Valley Middle School. She babysits her younger sister and does other chores, so her parents give her an allowance of $25 per week.

Not in the adult population