Unemployment numbers come from State’s tallies of people that are currently claiming and drawing unemployment. So if you don’t find a job in 26 weeks and you’re unemployment runs out, you’re no longer “unemployed”. If you quit or were fired and unable to qualify for unemployment, you’re not “unemployed”. If you’re disabled and can’t work you’re not “unemployed”.

Jobs data is just as bad. They do a survey of business and ask how many are hiring. Even if they don’t hire anyone, or it’s a ghost job, it’s still counted as an “available job created”.

As for new jobs filled, they survey payroll companies like PAYCHEX.

Counts of who is looking for a job or not is done with another survey.

Inmates are not counted in any of this.