Trump’s Long, Tortured Relationship With the Unemployment Rate Just Got Worse

December 29, 2025

President Donald Trump has been challenging unemployment statistics after the rate rose to 4. 6% in November, claiming he could rapidly reduce it by rehiring federal workers cut through government efficiency efforts. However, his math contains significant errors - he would need to hire 3.

Who is affected

982,000 additional unemployed Americans (increase from January to November)
271,000 eliminated federal government workers
Lower-income workers experiencing worse job conditions
Black workers (unemployment above 8% for first time in four years)
Workers in leisure, transportation, and manufacturing sectors facing job losses
Healthcare industry workers (experiencing job growth)
Former BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer (fired in August 2024)

What action is being taken

Workers are staying in their jobs longer, with voluntary quit rates at a five-year low
Government agencies are operating with reduced staffing through resignations, attrition, and Department of Government Efficiency-led reductions
The Bureau of Labor Statistics continues collecting payroll data and revising reports accordingly

Why it matters

This matters because Trump is asking Americans to disregard their actual experiences of a weakening job market and accept an alternative economic narrative not supported by evidence. This mirrors the political mistake made by President Biden that contributed to Democrats losing the White House in 2024. By questioning official economic data, Trump undermines government credibility needed for businesses to make informed hiring decisions and risks his own political credibility on his strongest issue - the economy - heading into midterm elections. The disconnect between claimed and actual economic conditions affects public trust in both leadership and economic institutions.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint