Quote from da-net:
Is it even possible to know what the real unemployment situation really is?
The reason I ask is there are so many people that are not counted; eg: 1099 unemployed, self employed that business failed now looking for work, people not drawing unemployment anymore, etc
Could the real unemployment figure be closer to say 20% or is that conservative?
Its about 22 percent according to shadow stats:
Alternate Unemployment Charts
The seasonally-adjusted SGS Alternate Unemployment Rate (Blue line) reflects current unemployment reporting methodology adjusted for SGS-estimated long-term discouraged workers, who were defined out of official existence in 1994. That estimate is added to the BLS estimate of U-6 unemployment, which includes short-term discouraged workers.
The U-3 unemployment rate is the monthly headline number. The U-6 unemployment rate is the Bureau of Labor Statisticsâ (BLS) broadest unemployment measure, including short-term discouraged and other marginally-attached workers as well as those forced to work part-time because they cannot find full-time employment.
http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data/unemployment-charts