In November 2013, the labor market had 1.3 million fewer jobs than when the recession began in December 2007. Further, because the potential labor force grows every month, the economy would have had to add 6.6 million jobs just to preserve the labor market health that prevailed in December 2007. Counting jobs lost plus jobs that should have been gained to absorb potential new labor market entrants, the U.S. economy had a jobs shortfall of 7.9 million in November 2013.

Don't let the small ups and downs of the monthly jobs report or weekly unemployment claims distract you from the big picture And that is the context in which Congress let emergency unemployment benefits lapse for people dealing with long-term unemployment. Republicans like Rand Paul would tell you that unemployment insurance somehow makes people less likely to look for or find jobs, but the reality is that it makes them more likely to look—the jobs just aren't there. As you can see in this chart.

Email your member of Congress now and demand that they restore benefits to the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.