The 16% is a labor dept number called U6 – it includes people who are working part time but want full time work and those who have given up looking. It’s the least rigged number – btw, it’s up to 17% for September. Here’s the data – http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?years_option=all_years&output_view=data&periods_option=all_periods&output_format=text&reformat=true&request_action=get_data&initial_request=false&data_tool=surveymost&output_type=column&series_id=LNS13327709

It’s an awkward way to look at the data – you can query it yourself on the site and get a better presentation. As well, i think i’f you click graph on the page it will be easier.

How do you get to the 16% number on unemployment? Is this number including those who have simply given up looking (the government numbers don’t include that group) and those who have exhausted benefits?