Commerce says unemployment rate for US-eligible workers in NMI is at 7.5 percent
In response to several occurrences of inaccurate statistics regarding the actual number of U.S.-eligible workers who are defined as «unemployed,” Secretary of Commerce Mark O. Rabauliman issued the following statement:
“As the CNMI government works toward mitigating the effects of the current labor crisis, it is important to the CNMI Department of Commerce and its Central Statistics Division, that dialogue in the community is well-informed with accurate data. Accordingly, with regard to the U.S.-eligible labor population in the CNMI, the recent [Office of Insular Affairs]-funded study, the 2016 Household Income Expenditure Survey, found that the estimated number of U.S. citizens and green card holders defined as “unemployed” represents about 7.5 percent of the current labor force, which also includes CW workers. For instance, according to the survey, there are approximately 1,800 [unemployed] U.S. citizens.” (PR)
How does that figure when there are about 5K on food stamps and about 15K registered voters?
BTW the Feds have now also passed a law that allows the states administering Medicaid, to require those on “Medicaid” to be employed, in school, or attending job training.