Compilation of Tales from the U.S. Census Bureau Archive
In a recent report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed a decrease of 501,000 non-farm jobs, with the biggest revisions occurring in the non-private sector. The leisure and hospitality, professional business services, and retail sectors were the most affected, experiencing reductions of 175,000, 163,000, and 146,400 jobs respectively. This report suggests the economy might be weaker than previously thought, according to Market Watch.
The BLS also delved into employment-covered health insurance, highlighting the fact that private coverage was more prevalent nationally. However, employment-covered health insurance and the specifics of what is covered and what isn't should be considered.
On the other hand, the report also showed an increase in the uninsured rate, particularly for children in public health insurance coverage. The national uninsured rate is 8.9%; states like Texas have the highest uninsured rate of 17.7%, while Massachusetts and D.C. have the lowest rates. The decline in Medicaid and CHIP coverages was a contributing factor to this rise, leading to an increase in the uninsured rate for those under 6 years old and for 6- to 11-year-olds.
The poverty rate dropped for the fifth consecutive year in 14 states and Puerto Rico between 2017 and 2018. Economic improvements and specific local factors were the main drivers of this decrease, although the exact causes were not detailed in the report. However, it's important to note that rising costs and challenges for vulnerable groups such as seniors persisted overall during this period.
The report also highlighted Social Security as the largest anti-poverty program in the U.S., moving 27.3 million people out of poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The majority helped were people 65 and older.
The BLS provides demographic numbers on the general population and housing characteristics every 10 years, including age, sex, education, and race/ethnicity. The report also offered insights into lifestyles and interpersonal relationships, such as unmarried couples living together and same-sex couples. On average, same-sex couples tend to have "higher incomes, have both people employed, and be more educated," but they have less likelihood of having children living with them. Over half were female households as well.
The Federal Reserve recently cut interest rates in part due to this report. The final Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmark report is expected to be released in Feb. 2020. The BLS also offers quick fact fact sheets on each state, making it easier to compare and contrast stories.
Connecticut was the only state that experienced an increase in the poverty rate, while New Hampshire had the lowest poverty rate at 7.6%, followed closely by Vermont, Hawaii, and Maine with rates of 8.1%, 8.3%, and 8.4% respectively. Mississippi had one of the highest poverty rates at 19.7%.
The supplemental poverty measure (SPM) takes into account individuals and families helped by government programs, such as refundable tax credits, housing assistance, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This measure is expected to provide a more comprehensive view of poverty in the United States.
The Census report noted that the numbers often "understate these programs' anti-poverty impact because they don't correct for the underreporting of government benefits in the survey data." The report serves as a valuable resource for understanding the current state of the U.S. economy and the challenges faced by its population.
