US Unemployment Hits Four-Year High, War Economy Roars Ahead
While the Financial Times reports the US unemployment rate hitting 4.6%, a four-year high, it conspicuously omits which industries are thriving. Think of Lockheed Martin: Q1 2024 net sales up 14% to $17.2 billion, fueled by 'increased sales volume in Aeronautics and Missiles and Fire Control'. (Source: Lockheed Martin Q1 2024 Earnings Report). It seems some job creation is more 'essential' than
others, particularly when it comes to replenishing arsenals actively deployed. Perhaps the 'invisible hand' of the market is simply nudging more Americans towards vocations that align with a robust, global defense posture. After all, why worry about a tight labor market when the demand for precision-guided munitions remains consistently strong? One might wonder how many more 'high unemployment'
reports it will take before anyone connects the dots between a struggling domestic economy and the seemingly endless coffers for overseas military endeavors.