Good thing Obama nixed the jobs council! Unemployment rises to 7.9%

http://twitter.com/#!/DavidMDrucker/status/297336548687486976

Good thing President Obama put his jobs council out of work yesterday!

So economy contracted, unemployment rate increased to 7.9% and the Jobs Council just got laid off.

— Joe Pounder (@PounderFile) February 1, 2013

Wonder what Obama’s job council thinks about this. Oh. Wait.

— Ellen Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) February 1, 2013

Obama: “Unemployment went UP?? Quick, call my Jobs Council!” *dialtone*

— Cuffé (@CuffyMeh) February 1, 2013

I wonder if the members of the now disbanded Jobs Council will be filing for unemployment. #tcot #TGDN

— Sean Kilroy (@seankilroy) February 1, 2013

The latest jobs report indicates that the president’s jobs council will have company down at the unemployment office. We suppose this is … unexpected.

I’m sure this rise in unemployment is ‘completely unexpected’ to the Democrats who claimed the economy was “roaring back”. #FORWARD

— Henry D’Andrea (@TheHenry) February 1, 2013

You can read the latest jobs/unemployment report at bls.gov/news.release/e…

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 1, 2013

As always, the invaluable Jim Pethokoukis reviews the numbers.

BREAKING: January Jobs Report: 7.9% unemployment rate | 157,000 net new payrolls

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) February 1, 2013

The broader U-6 unemployment rate was unchanged at 14.4%

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) February 1, 2013

Both the labor force participation rate and employment-population ratios were unchanged

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) February 1, 2013

While the % unemployed 27 weeks or longer fell to 38.1% from 39.1%, sharp increase in those unemployed 5-14 weeks, to 24.5% from 23.3%

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) February 1, 2013

10.8%: That’s what the unemployment rate would be if the labor force participation rate was the same as in Jan. 2009

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) February 1, 2013

Change in total nonfarm payroll employment for Nov. was revised from +161,000 to +247,000. Dec. was revised from +155,000 to +196,000

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) February 1, 2013

At 157,000 jobs a month, US economy would not return to pre-Great Recession employment levels until after 2025 hamiltonproject.org/jobs_gap/

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) February 1, 2013

Recall that according to Team Obama’s 2009 stimulus projection, we should be closing in on 5% unemployment right now

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) February 1, 2013

And, no, demographics probably don’t entirely explain the huge and sustained drop in the labor force participation rate over past 4 years

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) February 1, 2013

Can anyone spare some hope … or change?

Last 6 months unemployment rates: Aug 8.1; Sep 7.8; Oct 7.9; Nov 7.8; Dec 7.8 and Jan 7.9%.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 1, 2013

Obama still isn’t working. And you know what that means? Spin, lapdogs, spin!

Remember the unemployment rate is “essentially unchanged.” Couple of tenths up/down is just noise.

— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) February 1, 2013

U.S. employment report points to steady economic growth reut.rs/XrZurq

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) February 1, 2013

Right on the money RT @neil_irwin: +157k. consensus nails it.”

— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) February 1, 2013

Revisions are a huge win in this report. December up 40k, November up 86k!

— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) February 1, 2013

Breitbart’s John Nolte translates Ezra Klein’s analysis.

What would I do without @ezraklein telling me unemployment increase is a good thing and more deficit spending will grow the economy?

— John Nolte(@NolteNC) February 1, 2013

Shorter @ezraklein: Now matter which way the unemployment rate goes, it means Obama is the Sun King.

— John Nolte(@NolteNC) February 1, 2013

Shorter @ezraklein: GDP contracts, unemployment rate increases = Obama is the Sun King.

— John Nolte(@NolteNC) February 1, 2013

Forward!

Progress! | RT @rorycooper: January 2009 unemployment rate: 7.8%. January 2013 unemployment rate: 7.9%.

— Sean Hackbarth (@seanhackbarth) February 1, 2013

Update:

Surprise! The White House says this is evidence of a healing economy!

White House says today’s jobless report shows “much work remains to be done but “further evidence” economy is healing from downturn wounds.

— PETER MAER (@petermaercbs) February 1, 2013

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2013/02/01/good-thing-obama-nixed-the-jobs-council-unemployment-rises-to-7-9/