The chart was extracted from a note dubbed "HOPE FADING BUT ON ITS HOLD UNTIL DECEMBER" issued to Risk Manager Subscribers earlier today, September 8, 2010.

The chart below details where the unemployment rate would be if the labor force participation rate was at its ten-year average level of 66.1%; for the year-to-date, it has been averaging 64.8%.  This implies that many folks are losing heart and dropping out of the job hunt.

CHART: HOPE FADING... - chart1