As an engineer, when I hear the Pundits say that the rate of unemployment claims is slowing down and that is a good thing, it reminds me of a simple example. Think of a large container that is full of water (full employment, jobs for all) then at the bottom of the container, we punch a hole (economic crisis). The water starts running out at a fast pace. But as the amount in the container decreases (economic slowdown) the water coming out slows down (unemployment rate slows down). Thus a slow down in the unemployment rate does not mean things are getting better, it means there is no more water in the container.