U.S. Unemployment & SNAP Benefits

Nikki Schutz BMGT 311

An Unexpected Correlation

7IN Every RECEIVES

SNAP BENEFITS

35,000,000

37,000,000

39,000,000

41,000,000

43,000,000

45,000,000

47,000,000

49,000,000

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013

SNAP Participation (Persons, FY 2010-2013)

FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013

Yearly Average 2010 to 2013

2013 SNAP Participation as a % of Total U.S. Population

SNAP Recipients Total U.S. Population

47,669,430 (~15.9%)

300,000,000

IN Every IS UNEMPLOYED

14

Unemployment Rates (FY 2010-2013)

5

6

7

8

9

10

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2010 2011 2012 2013

FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013

Yearly Average 2010 to 2013

2013 SNAP Participation vs. Unemployment Rate

Average Unemployment Rate

Percent of Population Receiving SNAP Benefits

Even though there appears to be twice as many people receiving SNAP benefits than unemployed, and—unexpectedly—that the number of individuals receiving SNAP benefits has increased while unemployment has decreased…

2013 SNAP Participation vs. Unemployment Rate

It’s impossible to verify this conclusion based upon individual SNAP data, as unemployment figures are provided as a percentage of the labor force, NOT the population as a whole.

Nonetheless, given that unemployment figures account for all people able to work above the age of 16, one can safely assume the following:

More Good =/=

Sources

USDA, Food & Nutrition Service, SNAP Program Data, http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Overview of BLS Statistics on Unemployment, http://www.bls.gov/bls/unemployment.htm.