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Before and After: Jobs Down, Poverty and Government Dependence Up During the Obama Administration

October 11, 2012

   Before Obama*  After Obama**  Change
Jobs (Payroll Employment)  136.8 million  133.5 million (9/2012)  – 3.3 million
Not in Labor Force  79.5 million  88.7 million (9/2012)  + 9.2 million
People in Poverty  39.8 million  46.2 million (CY 2011)  + 6.4 million
Welfare Recipients (TANF)  4.0 million  4.5 million (12/2011)  + 0.5 million
Disability Recipients (SSI/SSDI)  12.1 million (12/08)  14.0 million (8/2012)  + 1.9 million
Food Stamp Recipients (SNAP)  28.2 million  46.7 million (7/2012)  + 18.5 million

Sources: Department of Labor payroll and household surveys; Census Bureau poverty data; HHS TANF data; Social Security Administration SSI/SSDI 2008 and 2012 data; and Department of Agriculture data.  *CY 2008 average, unless otherwise noted.  **Most recent available data.

 

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