With the mainstream media going gaga over the headline unemployment rate of 4.9%, let's put a spotlight on actual employment with a focus on those aged 25-54.

Age group 25-54 ought to be out of school, not retired, not on disability, and working somewhere. Here are some charts that show what has actually happened.

Core Employment 1950 to Present

Core Employment Detail

Core Employment vs. Population

• Core employment first surpassed the level we are at today in January of 2000, 16 years ago.
• Core employment hit a peak in January 2007 at 100.716 million.
• Today, core employment is 3,133,000 below January 2007.
• Today, core employment is 796,000 below the level 16 years ago.
• Today, core population is 5,284,000 above the level 16 years ago

These awful numbers do not account for part-time workers. If you work as little a 1 hour a week selling trinkets on eBay, you are considered "employed".