The core rate of unemployment, which is always reported, is deceptive. It is a percentage of people earnestly looking but completely unemployed. However, a lot of Americans want to work again, or would prefer working full time, or went back to school due to lack of employment opportunities. The real unemployment rate is the U6.
U-6: total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force, plus all marginally attached workers.
More about unemployment:
Wikipedia On Unemployment
