Deck 10: Unemployment

Question 1

Which of the following is not one of the categories into which the Bureau of Labor Statistics places each adult of each surveyed household?

A) employed
B) unemployed
C) underemployed
D) not in the labor force

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Unemployment data are collected

A) from unemployment insurance claims.
B) through a regular survey of about 60,000 households.
C) through a regular survey of about 200,000 firms.
D) using all of the above.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Measuring unemployment is the job of the

A) Congressional Budget Office.
B) Department of Commerce.
C) Council of Economic Advisers.
D) Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces data on unemployment and other aspects of the labor market from a regular survey of households, called the

A) Census.
B) Labor Survey.
C) Survey of Economic Indicators.
D) Current Population Survey.

Question 5

The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces data on unemployment

A) weekly.
B) monthly.
C) quarterly.
D) yearly.

Question 6

Who of the following is not included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "employed" category?

A) those who worked in their own business
B) those who worked as unpaid workers in a family member's business
C) those waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off
D) those who were temporarily absent from work because of vacation.

Question 7

Which of the following is correct?

A) The BLS uses data collected from those applying for unemployment insurance to compute the unemployment rate.
B) The labor force includes all adults who are able to work.
C) Unpaid homemakers are counted as employed by the BLS.
D) People working part time are counted as employed by the BLS.

Question 8

Who in the adult population is counted as employed in U.S. labor statistics?

A) people who are temporarily absent from their job and people who work without pay in a family member's business
B) people who are temporarily absent from their job but not people who work without pay in a family member's business
C) people who work without pay in a family member's business but not people who are temporarily absent from their job
D) neither people who are temporarily absent from their job nor people who work without pay in a family member's business

Question 9

The Bureau of Labor Statistics places people in the "employed" category if they

A) are without a job, but are available for work and have tried to find a job during the previous 4 weeks.
B) work without pay in a family member's business.
C) are waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 10

The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces data on

A) unemployment.
B) types of employment.
C) length of the average workweek.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 11

To be counted as employed in the U.S. labor force statistics a person

A) must be working for pay and be working full time.
B) must be working for pay, but does not have to be working full time.
C) does not have to be working for pay if they are working for a family business, but must be employed full time.
D) does not have to be working for pay if they are working for a family business and does not have to be working full time

Question 12

Who of the following are included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "employed" category?

A) certain unpaid workers
B) part-time workers
C) workers on vacation
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 13

Mary worked part-time for her mother's business without pay. Larry was absent from work because he had the flu. Who is counted as employed by the BLS?

A) Mary but not Larry
B) Larry but not Mary
C) both Marry and Larry
D) neither Mary nor Larry

Question 14

Unemployment numbers reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are reported based on a

A) monthly survey of about 60,000 households
B) monthly survey of about 6,000 households
C) weekly survey of about 60,000 households
D) weekly survey of about 6,000 households

Question 15

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is part of the U.S. Department of

A) the Treasury.
B) Commerce.
C) Labor.
D) the Interior.

Question 16

The Bureau of Labor Statistics places people in the "employed" category if they

A) are temporarily absent from their jobs.
B) are self-employed.
C) work without pay in a family member's business.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 17

Andre owns his own business. Oscar is an unpaid worker in his family's business. Who is included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "employed" category?

A) only Andre
B) only Oscar
C) both Andre and Oscar
D) neither Andre nor Oscar

Question 18

The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts a member of a surveyed household as an adult if that person is at least

A) 14 years old.
B) 16 years old.
C) 18 years old.
D) 21 years old.

Question 19

The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces data on unemployment and other aspects of the labor market from a regular survey of about

A) 600 households.
B) 6,000 households.
C) 60,000 households.
D) 6,000,000 households.

Question 20

Edgar is working part-time. Diane is on temporary layoff. Who is included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "employed" category?

A) only Edgar
B) only Diane
C) both Edgar and Diane
D) neither Edgar nor Diane

Question 21

For the Bureau of Labor Statistics to place someone in the "unemployed" category, that person must

A) have worked no more than 10 hours during the past week..
B) have tried to find employment during the previous year.
C) not have been laid off.
D) None of the above is correct.

Question 22

Jason works part-time as a babysitter. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts Jason as

A) unemployed and in the labor force.
B) unemployed and not in the labor force.
C) employed and in the labor force.
D) employed and not in the labor force.

Question 23

Josh is a full-time college student who is not working or looking for a job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts Josh as

A) unemployed and in the labor force.
B) unemployed, but not in the labor force.
C) in the labor force, but not unemployed.
D) neither in the labor force nor unemployed.

Question 24

Who of the following would be included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "unemployed" category?

A) Julie, who is on temporary layoff
B) Andrew, who worked only 15 hours last week
C) Ellen, who neither has a job nor is looking for one
D) None of the above is correct.

Question 25

Angelica is an unpaid homemaker who works as a volunteer at the local Red Cross and is currently not looking for a paid job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts Angelica as

A) unemployed and in the labor force.
B) unemployed, but not in the labor force.
C) in the labor force, but not unemployed.
D) neither in the labor force nor unemployed.

Question 26

Who of the following is counted as unemployed by the BLS?

A) someone working without pay for a family member's business
B) someone who is absent from their job due to illness
C) someone on temporary layoff
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 27

Tom was laid off and is expecting to be recalled. He has not looked for work since being laid off. Bill is not employed and not laid off. Who is counted as unemployed in the U.S. labor force statistics?

A) Tom and Bill even if he has not looked for work during the previous 4 weeks.
B) Tom and Bill if he has looked for work during the previous 4 weeks.
C) Not Tom. Bill even if he has not looked for work during the previous 4 weeks.
D) Not Tom. Bill if he has looked for work during the previous 4 weeks.

Question 28

Danielle did not work last week because flooding forced an evacuation of her workplace. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts Danielle as

A) unemployed and in the labor force.
B) unemployed and not in the labor force.
C) employed and in the labor force.
D) employed and not in the labor force.

Question 29

Jai Li just lost her job, and she hasn't yet started looking for a new one. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts Jai Li as

A) unemployed and in the labor force.
B) unemployed, but not in the labor force.
C) in the labor force, but not unemployed.
D) neither in the labor force nor unemployed.

Question 30

Meredith recently graduated from college but has not yet started working. To be counted as unemployed she

A) does not have to have looked for work.
B) must have looked for work no more than a week ago.
C) must have looked for work no more than 4 weeks ago.
D) must have looked for work no more than 12 weeks ago.

Question 31

Jouke is on a temporary layoff from his factory job but has not looked for work in the last four weeks. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts Jouke as

A) unemployed and in the labor force.
B) unemployed and not in the labor force.
C) employed and in the labor force.
D) employed and not in the labor force.

Question 32

For the Bureau of Labor Statistics to place someone in the "unemployed" category, that person must

A) be available for work.
B) have tried to find employment during the previous week.
C) have previously been employed.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 33

Who of the following would necessarily be included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "unemployed" category?

A) Lisa, who did not work during the previous 4 weeks
B) Julie, who tried to find new employment during the previous 4 weeks
C) Robert, who was an unpaid worker during the previous 4 weeks
D) None of the above is correct.

Question 34

Who of the following would be included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' "unemployed" category?

A) Cambry, a full-time student who is not looking for work
B) Eric, who is on temporary layoff
C) Carson, who has retired and is not looking for work
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 35

Which of the following includes everyone in the adult population that the Bureau of Labor Statistics counts as unemployed?

A) anyone who is not employed
B) anyone who is not employed, is available for work, and has looked for work in the past 4 weeks
C) anyone who is not employed, is available for work, has looked for work in the past 4 weeks, and anyone who is waiting to be recalled from a job from which they have been laid off
D) anyone who is not employed, is available for work, has looked for work in the past 4 weeks, anyone who is waiting to be recalled from a job from which they have been laid off, and anyone who is employed part time and has searched for full time employment in the past 4 weeks

Question 36

Mario was laid off two months ago. He has not searched for other work because he is expecting to be recalled to work. In the U.S. labor force statistics Mario is counted as

A) unemployed and in the labor force.
B) unemployed and not in the labor force.
C) employed and in the labor force.
D) not in the labor force.

Question 37

A person who is counted as unemployed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

A) is also in the labor force.
B) must have recently looked for work or be on temporary layoff.
C) must be at least 16 years old.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 38

Ava owns her own business. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts Ava as

A) unemployed and in the labor force.
B) unemployed and not in the labor force.
C) employed and in the labor force.
D) employed and not in the labor force.

Question 39

Caitlin is an unpaid worker in her family's bakery. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts Caitlin as

A) unemployed and in the labor force.
B) unemployed and not in the labor force.
C) employed and in the labor force.
D) employed and not in the labor force.

Question 40

Matt is waiting to be recalled to a job from which he was laid off. David was fired but hasn't looked for work during the last two months. Who does the BLS count as unemployed?

A) Matt but not David
B) David but not Matt
C) both David and Matt
D) neither David nor Matt

Question 41

The labor-force participation rate is computed as

A) (Employed Adult Population) 100.
B) (Employed Labor Force) 100.
C) (Labor Force Adult Population) 100.
D) (Adult Population Labor Force) 100.

Question 42

Matilda just graduated from college. In order to devote all her efforts to college, she didn't hold a job. She is going to tour around the country on her motorcycle for a month before she starts looking for work. Other things the same, the unemployment rate

A) increases and the labor-force participation rate decreases.
B) and the labor-force participation rate both increase.
C) increases and the labor-force participation rate is unaffected.
D) and the labor-force participation rate are both unaffected.

Question 43

Satchel loses his job and immediately begins looking for another. Other things the same, the unemployment rate

A) increases and the labor-force participation rate decreases.
B) and the labor-force participation rate both increase.
C) increases and the labor-force participation rate is unaffected.
D) is unaffected and the labor-force participation rate decreases.

Question 44

Suppose there are a large number of men who used to work or seek work who now no longer do either. Other things the same, this makes

A) the number of people unemployed rise but does not change the labor force.
B) the number of people unemployed rise but makes the labor force fall.
C) both the number of people unemployed and the labor force fall.
D) the number of people unemployed fall but does not change the labor force.

Question 45

Sirius has just finished high school and started looking for his first job, but has not yet found one. Other things the same, the unemployment rate

A) and the labor-force participation rate both increase.
B) increases and the labor-force participation rate is unaffected.
C) is unaffected and the labor-force participation rate increases.
D) and the labor-force participation rate are both unaffected.

Question 46

Jill does not currently have a job, but has applied for several jobs in the previous week. Ken is an unpaid stay-at-home dad who has not searched for work in recent years. Who does the BLS count as out of the labor force?

A) Jill but not Ken
B) Ken but not Jill
C) Jill and Ken
D) neither Jill nor Ken

Question 47

The labor-force participation rate tells us the fraction of the population that

A) is able to participate in the labor market.
B) has ever been employed.
C) has chosen to participate in the labor market.
D) has chosen not to participate in the labor market.

Question 48

The labor-force participation rate measures the percentage of the

A) total adult population that is in the labor force.
B) total adult population that is employed.
C) labor force that is employed.
D) labor force that is either employed or unemployed.

Question 49

The unemployment rate is computed as the number of unemployed

A) divided by the labor force, all times 100.
B) divided by the number of employed, all times 100.
C) divided by the adult population, all times 100.
D) times the labor-force participation rate, all times 100.

Question 50

Who is included in the labor force by the Bureau of Labor Statistics?

A) Juan, who works most of the week in a steel factory
B) Molly, who is on temporary layoff
C) Charlie, who does not have a job, but is looking for work
D) All of the above are included in the labor force.

Question 51

Sheamous loses his job and decides to sit on the beach rather than look for work during the next few months. Other things the same, the unemployment rate

A) increases and the labor-force participation rate decreases.
B) increases and the labor-force participation rate is unaffected.
C) is unaffected and the labor-force participation rate decreases.
D) and the labor-force participation rate are both unaffected.

Question 52

The labor force equals the

A) number of people employed.
B) number of people employed plus the number of people unemployed.
C) number of people employed plus the number of people unemployed plus teenagers between ages 14 and 16 who work at least 10 hours a week.
D) adult population.

Question 53

Which of the following is correct?

A) Labor force = number of employed.
B) Labor force = population - number of unemployed.
C) Unemployment Rate = number of unemployed (number of employed + number of unemployed) 100.
D) Unemployment Rate = number of unemployed adult population 100.

Question 54

The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the unemployment rate as the percentage of

A) those unemployed relative to those employed.
B) the labor force that is unemployed.
C) the adult population that is unemployed.
D) the adult population that is unemployed or not in the labor force.

Question 55

Refer to Sample
Sample Population

Refer to Sample Population. How many in the sample are in the labor force?

A) 10
B) 9
C) 8
D) None of the above is correct.

Question 56

If an unemployed person quits looking for work, then, eventually the unemployment rate

A) decreases and the labor-force participation rate is unaffected.
B) and the labor-force participation rate both decrease.
C) is unaffected and the labor-force participation rate decreases.
D) and the labor-force participation rate are both unaffected.

Question 57

Who is included in the labor force by the Bureau of Labor Statistics?

A) Chris, an unpaid homemaker not looking for other work
B) Marcus, a full-time student not looking for work
C) Gabe, who does not have a job, but is looking for work
D) None of the above is correct.

Question 58

Who is not included in the labor force by the Bureau of Labor Statistics?

A) Calvin, who is on temporary layoff
B) Michael, who has retired and is not looking for work
C) Lauren, who does not have a job, but has applied for several in the last week
D) None of the above is correct.

Question 59

Shannon is a full-time homemaker not currently searching for paid work. Noah is a full-time student who is not looking for a job. Who is included in the labor force by the Bureau of Labor Statistics?

A) only Shannon
B) only Noah
C) both Shannon and Noah
D) neither Shannon nor Noah

Question 60

Refer to Sample
Sample Population

Refer to Sample Population. How many in the sample are unemployed?

A) 5
B) 4
C) 3
D) None of the above is correct.

Question 61

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2005 that there were 28.19 million people over age 25 who had no high school degree or its equivalent, 11.73 million of whom were employed and 1.04 million of whom were unemployed. What were the labor-force participation rate and the unemployment rate for this group?

A) 45.3% and 3.7%
B) 45.3% and 8.1%
C) 41.6% and 3.7%
D) 41.6% and 8.1%

Question 62

In June 2009 the BLS reported an adult population of 234.9 million, a labor force of 154 million and employment of 141.6 million. Based on these numbers the unemployment rate was

A) 93.3/234.9.
B) 12.4/234.9.
C) 93.3/154.
D) 12.4/154.

Question 63

In June 2009 the BLS reported a U.S. foreign-born population of 35.3 million. Of these, 22.7 million were employed and 1.4 million were unemployed. Based on these numbers what were the unemployment rate and the labor-force participation rate of the foreign-born U.S. population?

A) 1.4/35.3 and 22.7/35.3
B) 1.4/35.3 and 24.1/35.3
C) 1.4/24.1 and 22.7/24.1
D) None of the above are correct.

Question 64

In June 2009 the BLS reported an adult population of 234.9 million, unemployment of 12.4 million, and employment of 141.6 million. Based on these numbers the labor-force participation rate was

A) 154/234.9.
B) 141.6/234.9.
C) 141.6/154.
D) None of the above are correct.

Question 65

Suppose that the adult population is 4 million, the number of unemployed is 0.25 million, and the labor-force participation rate is 75%. What is the unemployment rate?

A) 6.25%
B) 8.3%
C) 9.1%
D) 18.75%

Question 66

Suppose some country had an adult population of about 50 million, a labor-force participation rate of 60 percent, and an unemployment rate of 5 percent. How many people were unemployed?

A) 1.425 million
B) 1.5 million
C) 2.5 million
D) 5 million

Question 67

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2005 that there were 53.23 million people over age 25 who had at least a bachelor's degree, 40.59 million of whom were employed and 0.98 million of whom were unemployed. What were the labor-force participation rate and the unemployment rate for this group?

A) 76.3% and 1.8%
B) 76.3% and 2.4%
C) 78.1% and 1.8%
D) 78.1% and 2.4%

Question 68

Suppose some country had an adult population of about 46 million, a labor-force participation rate of 75 percent, and an unemployment rate of 8 percent. How many people were unemployed?

A) 2.54 million
B) 2.76 million
C) 3.68 million
D) 8 million

Question 69

President Bigego is running for re-election against Senator Pander. Bigego proclaims that more people are working now than when he took office. Pander says that the unemployment rate is higher now than when Bigego took office. You conclude that

A) one of them must be lying.
B) both of them could be telling the truth if the labor force and employment grew at the exact same rate.
C) both of them could be telling the truth if the labor force grew slower than employment.
D) both of them could be telling the truth if the labor force grew faster than employment.

Question 70

Suppose some country had an adult population of about 50 million, a labor-force participation rate of 60 percent, and an unemployment rate of 5 percent. How many people were employed?

A) 1.5 million
B) 28.5 million
C) 30 million
D) 47.5 million

Question 71

Suppose that the adult population is 6 million, the number of employed is 3.8 million, and the labor-force participation rate is 70%. What is the unemployment rate?

A) 6.7%
B) 9.5%
C) 10.5%
D) 28%

Question 72

Suppose some country had an adult population of about 25 million, a labor-force participation rate of 60 percent, and an unemployment rate of 6 percent. How many people were unemployed?

A) 0.846 million
B) 0.9 million
C) 1.5 million
D) 6 million

Question 73

Suppose some country had an adult population of about 46 million, a labor-force participation rate of 75 percent, and an unemployment rate of 8 percent. How many people were employed?

A) 2.76 million
B) 31.74 million
C) 34.5 million
D) 42.32 million

Question 74

Suppose some country had an adult population of about 25 million, a labor-force participation rate of 60 percent, and an unemployment rate of 6 percent. How many people were employed?

A) 0.9 million
B) 14.1 million
C) 15 million
D) 23.5 million

Question 75

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2005 that there were 59.98 million people over age 25 whose highest level of education was a high school degree or equivalent, 36.40 million of whom were employed and 1.93 million of whom were unemployed. What were the labor-force participation rate and the unemployment rate for this group?

A) 60.7% and 3.2%
B) 60.7% and 5.0%
C) 63.9% and 3.2%
D) 63.9% and 5.0%

Question 76

In 2009, based on concepts similar to those used to estimate U.S. employment figures, the Italian adult non-institutionalized population was 51.070 million, the labor force was 24.710 million, and the number of people employed was 22.765 million. According to these numbers, the Italian labor-force participation rate and unemployment rate were about

A) 48.4% and 7.9%.
B) 48.4% and 3.8%.
C) 44.6% and 7.9%
D) 44.6% and 3.8%

Question 77

In 2009, based on concepts similar to those used to estimate U.S. employment figures, the Japanese adult non-institutionalized population was 110.272 million, the labor force was 65.362 million, and the number of people employed was 62.242 million. According to these numbers, the Japanese labor-force participation rate and unemployment rate were about

A) 56.4% and 2.8%.
B) 56.4% and 4.8%.
C) 59.3% and 2.8%.
D) 59.3% and 4.8%.

Question 78

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2005 that there were 50.40 million people over age 25 whose highest level of education was some college or an associate degree, 33.86 million of whom were employed and 1.27 million of whom were unemployed. What were the labor-force participation rate and the unemployment rate for this group?

A) 69.7% and 2.5%
B) 69.7% and 3.6%
C) 67.2% and 2.5%
D) 67.2% and 3.6%

Question 79

Table 10-2
2009 Labor Data for Baltivia

Refer to Table 10-2. How many people were employed in Baltivia in 2009?

A) 9,600
B) 10,600
C) 11,000
D) 11,200

Question 80

In 2009, based on concepts similar to those used to estimate U.S. employment figures, the Swedish adult non-institutionalized population was 7.568 million, the labor force was 4.888 million, and the number of people employed was 4.486 million. According to these numbers, the Swedish labor-force participation rate and unemployment rate were about

A) 64.6% and 8.2%.
B) 64.6% and 5.3%.
C) 59.3% and 8.2%.
D) 59.3% and 5.3%.