Polling News

Weakest Job Growth Since 2010

June 09, 2016

Last Thursday, President Barack Obama visited Elkhart, Indiana, one of the cities hit hardest during the Great Recession.  He went there to praise the country’s economic recovery during his two terms.  Two days later, he used his weekly address to applaud himself, explaining that the country is doing better because of “a series of smart decisions early in my presidency.”

He must have missed Friday’s weak Bureau of Labor Statistics’ jobs report that revealed only 38,000 jobs were created in May, 124,000 jobs short of what economists predicted.  Monthly job creation has not been this low since September 2010 when the economy lost 52,000 jobs and job creation has been slowing over the past year.  There was little to celebrate in May’s report.  Though the unemployment rate was 4.7%, the rates was low because Americans continue to stop looking for work and instead leave the labor force.  The participation rate has steadily declined over the course of Mr. Obama’s presidency, dropping from 65.7 in January 2009 to 62.6% in May 2016.  Jimmy Carter was president the last time labor force participation was this low.

With job numbers like these, it is no wonder only 28% of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the United States and 69% are dissatisfied, per the latest Gallup poll.  Hillary Clinton says she is the only one who can continue Mr. Obama’s policies.  With results like these, she may want to change her argument.

Related PollingNews

Placeholder polling news
June 19, 2025 |
Polling News
As the debate over final passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” continues in Congress, a recent Pew Research Center poll found that almost half of Americans view the bill unfavorably.  ...
Placeholder polling news
June 12, 2025 |
Polling News
There has been nonstop, wall-to-wall coverage of the recent Los Angeles protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  ...
Placeholder polling news
June 05, 2025 |
Polling News
The June CNN poll had mixed findings for both parties. While there are major doubts on each party’s effectiveness, more Americans view the Republican Party as the party of change and the party with strong leaders. ...
Placeholder polling news
May 29, 2025 |
Polling News
The Cook Political Report reviewed The Catalist “What Happened” report and found Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss was largely a result of new and infrequent voters falling below 50% support for a Democrat presidential candidate for the first time in Cat...
Button karlsbooks
Button readinglist
Button nextapperance