We really don't know the true unemployment rate.
https://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.pdf
Only 60k eligible households, out of 121 MILLION in the US, are interviewed either live or on the phone, and that is somehow supposed to represent the entire US.
From the link:
A sample is not a total count, and the survey may not produce the same results that would be obtained from interviewing the entire population. But the chances are 90 out of 100 that the monthly estimate of unemployment from the sample is within about 300,000 of the figure obtainable from a total census. Relative to total unemployment—which ranged between about 7 and 15 million over the past decade—the possible error resulting from sampling is not large enough to distort the total unemployment picture.
This totally contradicts! But it gets better…
Survey respondents are never asked specifically if they are unemployed, nor are they given an opportunity to decide their own labor force status. Their status will be determined based on how they respond to a specific set of questions about their recent activities.
Based on information collected in the survey and definitions programmed into the computer, individuals are then classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force.
People are considered employed if they did any work at all for pay or profit during the survey reference week. This includes all part-time and temporary work, as well as regular full-time, year-round employment.
Garrett is 16 years old, and he has no job from which he receives any pay or profit. However, Garrett does help with the regular chores around his parents' farm and spends about 20 hours each week doing so.
Lisa spends most of her time taking care of her home and children, but she helps in her husband's computer software business all day Friday and Saturday.
Both Garrett and Lisa are considered employed.
Again, CONTRADICTION. Garrett is counted as "employed" yet he has no job from which he receives pay or profit, HE HELPS AROUND THE FARM, and is counted as "employed". Lisa is counted as "employed" by helping her husband's business (I'd imagine the self employment profit and taxes are all in his name too).
This is the MAIN QUESTION USED to determine "employment".
Last week, did you do any work for (either) pay (or profit)
I guess unloading your friend's U-Haul for $20 or being a prostitute for that matter is considered "employment".