Format of the Project:
The Data Exercise must be posted to the LEO Student Assignments as a Attachments
are limited to a maximum two files in doc, docx., xls. xlsx., or rtf. formats. OTHER
FORMATS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE, will not be reviewed or graded.
Please note that hand-written and scanned works, pdf. files, jpg. files, as well as
files posted in google drive, will not be accepted or graded.
Please note that starting from the Fall 2020 semester the UMGC moved to the 7th
Edition of the APA Style. The links to the 7th Edition of the APA
Style methodology are posted in Content – Course Resources – Writing
Resources.
No more than 20% of the text of the project should be made up of quotes.
Please note that Use of the 7th Edition APA Citation Methodology is required for
all parts of the assignment
Written projects:
1. Must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font, with
one-inch margins
2. Must have the title page in APA-7th style
3. Must have in-text citations in APA-7th edition style
4. Must have reference list in APA-7th edition style. Please note that you must
reference the data you are using for the project
5. Must be prepared using word processing software (Microsoft Word preferred)
DATA EXERCISE #2
Consists of three parts
Part 1: The Unemployment Rate (weight 30% of the assignment grade)
Complete the following exercise
Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web Site, www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm
(http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm). Select Employment Situation
Summary.
Please note that using the data from previously published releases and
summaries will produce grade zero for this part of the project.
Write a report (1 – 2 pages double spaced) in your own words to answer the
questions:
1. What month (and year) is summarized? What was the unemployment rate for
that month? How does that rate compare with the rate in the previous month?
2. What were the unemployment rates for adult women, teenagers, blacks,
Hispanics, and whites? How did these rates compare with those a month earlier?
3. What factors make it difficult to determine the unemployment rate?
4. Why is unemployment an economic problem?
5. What are the noneconomic effects of unemployment?
6. Who loses from unemployment?
7. Please analyze and discuss the significance of the data that you received
for this Data exercise.
8. Reflect on what you have learned from this exercise.
Part 2: The Inflation Rate (weight 30% of the assignment grade)
Complete the following exercise:
Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web Site, www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.toc.htm
(http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.toc.htm). You will be using ―Consumer Price Index
Summary‖ and the ―Table 1 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U. S.
city average, by expenditure category ―.
Please note that using the data from previously published releases and
summaries will produce grade zero for this part of the project.
Write a report (1 – 2 pages double spaced) in your own words to answer the
questions:
1. What month (and year) is summarized? What was the level of the CPIU for that
month? (See Table 1 ―Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers‖). What does
this number represent?
2. What was the rate of inflation (percentage change in the CPIU) for the last
available month? How does that rate of inflation compare with the rate in the
previous month?
3. What was the rate of inflation (percentage change in the CPIU) for the last 12
months for ―all items‖?
4. Which two categories of goods or services had the greatest price increase for the
last 12 months? Which two categories of goods or services had the lowest price
increase for the last 12 months?
5. Which two categories of goods or services had the largest price decrease for the
last 12 months?
6. Who loses from inflation?
7. Who benefits from inflation?
8. Please analyze and discuss the significance of the data that you received
for this Data Exercise.
9. Reflect on what you have learned from this exercise.
Part 3: Unemployment Data by Labor Force Groups and Duration (30% of the
project grade)
Go to https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/erp
This is the home page of the Economic Report of the President.
Click on the last available Report, scroll down, and download individual tables as Excel.
Please note that using the data from previous Reports will produce grade zero for
this part of the project.
1. Find unemployment data (Table B–27.—Civilian unemployment rate) for each
year 2000 to present. Use three labor force groups: men 20 years and over,
women 20 years and over, both sexes 16 to 19 years of age.
a. Present the result in your project as a table.
b. Create one or more charts (line graph, bar graph, etc.).
2. Find unemployment data (Table B–27.—Civilian unemployment rate) for each
year 2000 to present by educational attainment (25 years and over). Use the
following groups: less than an high school diploma; high school graduates, no
college; some college or associate degree; bachelor’s degree and higher.
a. Present the result in your project as a table.
b. Create one or more charts (line graph, bar graph, etc.).
3. Use the Economic Report of the President (Table B–28.—Unemployment by
duration and reason) to find data on the duration of unemployment for each year
2000 to present.
a. Present the result in your project as a table.
b. Create one or more charts (line graph, bar graph, etc.).
Write a report (2 pages double-spaced) in your own words about the results you
received.
In this paper consider, but do not be limited to the following:
1. Which years had the highest and lowest unemployment rates? How do the rates
compare among these groups?
2. Compare the unemployment rates by educational attainment. How do the rates
compare among these groups? What relationship, if any, do you find?
3. Compare the distribution of unemployment by duration over these years. Which
years had the highest and lowest unemployment duration? What relationship, if
any, do you find?
4. Demographic studies show that the proportion of teenagers and minorities in the
U.S. population is likely to increase in the near future. In your opinion, what
implications, if any, will this trend have on the unemployment rate?
5. Please analyze and discuss the significance of the data that you received
for this Data exercise.
6. Reflect on what you have learned from this exercise.
PRESENTATION OF THE DATA EXERCISE AND USE OF APA CITATION
METHODOLOGY (10%) of the project grade):
Organization, format, and presentation of paper including the title page, introduction,
body, and summary. Begin each section with a subheading; use the subheadings
described in the assignment (3% of the project grade).
Use of tables, figures, and other graphics to summarize and support analysis presented
in the paper. All tables and charts should have the numbering system: ―Table 1‖, a
substantive title, and a reference to the source of the information. (3% of the project
grade).
Research sources and significance of research information and data, and use of APA
citation methodology (4% of the project grade).
