Job growth not so robust

In his letter of Jan. 1, Steve LaCombe credits President Obama with adding 12 million new jobs. Following LaCombe’s letter on the same day was a letter by John and Dale Yates. They credit Obama with creating 15 million new jobs. Both numbers are bogus.

The 8.8 million jobs lost during the recession were replaced by mid 2014. As of November 2016, there were 145 million full time jobs in the U.S., which is up 5.5 million jobs from November 2007, not 12 or 15 million. Job growth is much less robust than it’s been in previous cycles.

In comparison, there were 8.1 million new jobs during the 2001–2007 recovery. Meanwhile, our population has increased 20 million since 2007. Also, the total number of unemployed persons, involuntary part-time employees, discouraged workers and marginally attached workers who would like to be employed and have looked for work unsuccessfully is 11 million.

According to The National Employment Law Project, the quality of the jobs created does not match the quality of the jobs lost during the recession. And to top it off, 2016 wages adjusted for inflation are less than 2008 wages.

George Watterson

Spokane Valley