Informationgraphics are designed to clarify our view of difficult data. On thisday before Labor Day, here’s a fever chart from Calculated Risk that clarifies to a fault. (Thanks to Phil Patton.)
This graph shows the job losses from the start of theemployment recession, in percentage terms – this time aligned at thebottom of the recession (Both the 1991 and 2001 recessions were flat atthe bottom, so the choice was a little arbitrary).The dotted line shows the impact of Census hiring. In August, therewere only 82,000 temporary 2010 Census workers still on the payroll.The number of Census workers will continue to decline – and theremaining gap between the solid and dashed red lines will be gone soon.
OY!
However, if you’re looking for light somewhere inside the tunnel. Calculated Risk surmises:
The underlying details of the employment report weremixed. The positives: the upward revisions to the June and Julyreports, a slight increase in hours worked for manufacturing employees(flat for all employees), an increase in hourly wages, and the decreasein the long term unemployed. Other positives include the slightincrease in the employment-population ratio and the participation rate.
Read more: Imprint-The Online Community for Graphic Designers | So Many Lines, So Little Work http://imprint.printmag.com/daily-heller/so-many-lines-so-little-work/#ixzz0ygaVcIpn
About Steven Heller
Steven Heller is the co-chair of the SVA MFA Designer /Designer as Author + Entrepreneur program, writes frequently for Wired and Design Observer. He is also the author of over 170 books on design and visual culture. He received the 1999 AIGA Medal and is the 2011 recipient of the Smithsonian National Design Award.View all posts by Steven Heller →