You Are an Employee of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Essay

You are an employee of the Bureau of Labor Statistics involved in the monthly survey of households used to estimate the unemployment rate. In each of the following cases, classify the individual as employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force. Explain your classification.
(a) During the entire week containing the 12th of the month, Rosie the Riveter misses work simply because she didn't feel like going in to work.
(b) Jenny Wren is a volunteer 20 hours a week on a Rape Crisis telephone hotline. She feels she makes an important contribution to society and would not accept a paid job if one were offered to her.
(c) Cauley McCulkin is a hugely successful film star, age 12, who has earned over $5,000,000 each year for the past five years. Currently, Cauley is filming a new movie on location in Tenerife.
(d) Maxwell Edison, a full-time Ph.D. student, is involved in ground-breaking research in fiber optics. His dissertation advisor has already claimed that Maxwell's work will revolutionize telecommunications.
(e) Maggie Madd, 84, works 10 hours a week doing cleaning services for her son, Norman Neurotic. He pays her minimum wage.