Perspective on today’s job numbers

Expect the White House to crow about today’s employment figures with quotes like, “We created the the highest job numbers in five years!” and, “The economy is going through the roof!” and, “Eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh!” (Bush only).

Atrios, however, lends this perspective:

+157K in December. Need 140-150K to keep up with growth in working age population. At the end of December 2000, the number of jobs was 132,441,000. It now stands at 132,266,000.

Plus, the jobless rate is stagnant. Holding at 5.4%.