WASHINGTON - October 2 - Americans for Democratic Action, proud liberals fighting on behalf of working and unemployed Americans for 62 years, released the following statement about today’s unemployment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“The real unemployment rate released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 17%, over 7 points higher than the officially reported rate,” said ADA National Director Michael J. Wilson

The real rate includes marginally attached workers which the BLS reports “are neither working nor looking for work but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past.  Discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached, have given a job-market related reason for not looking currently for a job.  Persons employed part time for economic reasons are those who want and are available for full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule.”

“We cannot underscore enough the seriousness of the unemployment situation,” Wilson continued.  “There is no recovery without job creation.”

“The latest BLS report shows 35.6% of the unemployed have been without work for more than 27 weeks. 

“Unemployed for a day, you can make it.  Unemployed for a month, you will struggle. Unemployed for six months and you are facing disaster.  It’s not just how many are jobless, but also for how long.

“It is critical that the Senate pass the extension of unemployment benefits quickly, otherwise hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose their benefits.  Unemployment benefits are critical not just to sustain families, but as a continuing economic stimulus since they are spent on groceries, housing, utilities, and other necessities.  We must continue to build jobs and consumer confidence and resist government paralysis in order to avoid a double dip recession.”