Unemployment = 5.7% GDP = 1.9% Productivity = 2.6%

As we consider what’s happening in our economy, we often focus on headline numbers to capture an entire situation. Whether it is consumer spending, GDP, inflation or unemployment, much of the reaction to the state of the economy is based on singular indices that are meant to represent a bigger picture.

While these indicators can be telling, relying solely on them to serve as our guide is not a true sample of what’s actually happening in American offices and to employees. Now more than ever, today’s job market represents a segmented picture with well-defined areas of strength and weakness, resulting in an increased reliance on the underlying details to really inform what the jobs report means to you and your specific profession.

While national unemployment is 5.7%, it’s almost 8% if you work in the construction industry, and just under 4% in healthcare. If you live in California, you’re at 6.9% and if you live in Maryland, you’re at a much lower 4%. And, while the market isn’t great for a manufacturing employee in Detroit, Michigan, it is terrific for an accountant in New York City. Clearly, holistic views are important, but they’re not all telling.