1. U.S. Unemployment & SNAP Benefits
Nikki Schutz
BMGT 311
An Unexpected Correlation

2. 7
IN
Every RECEIVES
SNAP BENEFITS

3. 35,000,000
37,000,000
39,000,000
41,000,000
43,000,000
45,000,000
47,000,000
49,000,000
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
FY 2010
FY 2011
FY 2012
FY 2013
SNAP Participation (Persons, FY 2010-2013)
FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013
Yearly
Average
2010 to
2013

4. 2013 SNAP Participation as a % of Total U.S. Population
SNAP Recipients
Total U.S. Population
47,669,430
(~15.9%)
300,000,000

5. IN
Every
IS UNEMPLOYED
14

6. Unemployment Rates (FY 2010-2013)
5
6
7
8
9
10
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2010
2011
2012
2013
FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013
Yearly
Average
2010 to
2013

7. 2013 SNAP Participation vs. Unemployment Rate
Average Unemployment Rate
Percent of Population
Receiving SNAP Benefits
Even though there appears to be twice as many people receiving SNAP benefits
than unemployed, and—unexpectedly—that the number of individuals receiving
SNAP benefits has increased while unemployment has decreased…

8. 2013 SNAP Participation vs. Unemployment Rate
It’s impossible to verify this conclusion based upon individual SNAP data, as
unemployment figures are provided as a percentage of the labor force, NOT the
population as a whole.
Nonetheless, given that unemployment figures account for all people able to work
above the age of 16, one can safely assume the following:
More Good=/=

9. Sources
USDA, Food & Nutrition Service, SNAP Program Data, http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Overview of BLS Statistics on Unemployment, http://
www.bls.gov/bls/unemployment.htm.