Monthly unemployment estimates are used to measure the status of our economic recovery. A reduction in unemployment is used as an indicator of an improvement. These figures are subject to many estimates, not measurements. A more accurate measure would be the monthly number of individuals receiving food stamps.
States should accurately know how many people are receiving food stamp assistance. If the number goes down, it would indicate an improvement in the economy. If it goes up, it would indicate a worsening in our economy. It would also provide accurate information to compare changes occurring in each of our states.
In March 2011, there were 1,056,106 individuals on the food stamp program in Washington. In March 2012, the program had grown to 1,111,501 people which would indicate that the economy in Washington had worsened during this period. The unemployment figures show that unemployment had dropped from over 320,000 in March 2011 to 290,784 in March 2012, which would indicate an improvement in our economy. Maybe we shouldn’t take job growth as an indicator of economic recovery as most of the new jobs must be low paying and not adequate to remove employees from the food stamp program.
Jack E. Sceva
Stanwood
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
