Part 3/18:
Yet, official unemployment data is not always an accurate reflection of reality. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, which primarily tracks traditional payroll jobs, overlooks millions engaged in gig work or part-time employment. Many workers, particularly gig and contract workers, do not qualify for state benefits, so their employment struggles remain invisible in official statistics. Additionally, more Americans are juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet—a phenomenon known as "multiple job holding"—foreshadowing deeper economic troubles.