The table below shows data regarding Germany's labor market. $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | }
\hline \text { Year } & \begin{array} { c }
\text { Labor Force } \
\text { (millions) }
\end{array} & \begin{array} { c }
\text { Number of } \
\text { Employed } \
\text { (millions) }
\end{array} & \begin{array} { c }
\text { Population } \
\text { (millions) }
\end{array} \
\hline 2006 & 43.7 & 39.01 & 82.3 \
\hline 2007 & 43.7 & 39.06 & 82.2 \
\hline 2008 & 43.6 & 39.8 & 82.1 \
\hline
\end{array}$$
The data show that Germany's unemployment rate between 2007 and 2008
A) increased.
B) decreased
C) stayed the same.
D) cannot be determined because the population decreased.

Question

The table below shows data regarding Germany's labor market. $$\begin{array} { | c | c | c | c | } 
\hline \text { Year } & \begin{array} { c } 
\text { Labor Force } \
\text { (millions) }
\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } 
\text { Number of } \
\text { Employed } \
\text { (millions) }
\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } 
\text { Population } \
\text { (millions) }
\end{array} \
\hline 2006 & 43.7 & 39.01 & 82.3 \
\hline 2007 & 43.7 & 39.06 & 82.2 \
\hline 2008 & 43.6 & 39.8 & 82.1 \
\hline
\end{array}$$
The data show that Germany's unemployment rate between 2007 and 2008
A) increased.
B) decreased
C) stayed the same.
D) cannot be determined because the population decreased.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To calculate Germany's unemployment rate, we need to subtract the number of employed from the labor force, which gives us the number of unemployed. Then we divide the number of unemployed by the labor force and multiply by 100 to get the unemployment rate as a percentage.

Using this formula, we can see that in 2007, the number of unemployed was 4.64 million (43.7 million labor force - 39.06 million employed), and the unemployment rate was 10.6%. In 2008, the number of unemployed decreased to 3.8 million (43.6 million labor force - 39.8 million employed), and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.7%. Therefore, the answer is B, decreased.

Note that the population is not needed to calculate the unemployment rate, only the labor force and the number of employed.

The Table Below Shows Data Regarding Germany's Labor Market The Data Show That Germany's Unemployment Rate Between 2007 and