part-time workers

The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to 9.7% in January from 10% in December even though 20,000 more jobs were lost. These confusing stats are likely influenced by the ability or unwillingness of large employers to hire full-time workers. Still, at least some economists think the trends are going in the right direction.

Although it seems like toting up the numbers should be fairly straightforward, it turns out to be a complicated calculation, thanks to several inherent difficulties. For starters, unemployment is a snapshot of a moving target.