BUSINESS AND MONEY
A Ludwig Institute analysis suggests traditional unemployment figures significantly understate labor market strain
Nearly one in four American workers is considered “functionally unemployed,” according to a new analysis from the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity, underscoring persistent weaknesses in the U.S. labor market that are not reflected in official unemployment statistics.
The institute’s True Rate of Unemployment (TRU) for November shows that 24.8 percent of the labor force falls into this category. While the figure shows a slight improvement relative to earlier in the fall, it remains higher than a year ago. It stands in stark contrast to the government’s headline unemployment rate of roughly 4.6 percent. The gap highlights the difference between formal employment levels and the day-to-day economic reality faced by many workers.
Unlike the standard unemployment rate, the TRU includes not only individuals without jobs but also those who are involuntarily working part-time and workers earning poverty-level wages. For 2025, the institute defines low-wage employment as earning $26,000 or less annually. Under this broader definition, millions of Americans are technically employed yet still unable to achieve financial stability.
The data also reveal significant demographic disparities. Functional unemployment remains higher among Black and Hispanic workers compared with White workers, and women continue to be disproportionately affected. The TRU for women rose to just over 30 percent, while the rate for men declined to about 20 percent, indicating uneven labor market outcomes despite overall job growth.
Gene Ludwig, chair of the institute, pointed to stagnant real wages and rising living costs as central factors driving functional unemployment. Many workers, he noted, are unable to keep pace with expenses for housing, food, healthcare, and transportation, even when employed.
The findings come amid broader uncertainty surrounding economic data, following recent disruptions…
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Introduction
By Hazel Saunders / Business EditorPicture this: you’ve just bought your first vending machine. It’s shiny, freshly stocked, and perfectly placed in what you believe is a high-traffic location. You lock it up, walk away, and your imagination races. You see coins clinking, notes sliding in, and sales piling up while you sleep. Passive income at last! But then comes the question every vending machine entrepreneur secretly asks themselves—when does the money really start rolling in? When does your vending machine actually start printing money?
The truth is, vending machines don’t work like slot machines. They don’t make you rich overnight. But with the right strategy, awareness of hidden costs, and an understanding of how to measure ROI (return on investment), a vending machine can be one of the most consistent and profitable small businesses you’ll ever own. The secret lies in knowing what nobody tells you upfront. And that’s exactly what we’re going to unpack in this article.
So if you’ve been googling vending machine success stories, trying to calculate profits in your head, or even flipping through a complete vending machine business cost guide and still wondering how the numbers play out in real life, you’re in the right place. Let’s pull back the curtain on the ROI secrets that separate dreamers from successful vending entrepreneurs.
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