Final answer:
Reclassifying workers on disability aid as unemployed would increase the number of unemployed, which would raise the unemployment rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
If workers receiving disability aid were defined as unemployed, this would increase the number of unemployed. Currently, such individuals are not considered part of the labor force because they are neither working nor actively looking for work due to their disabilities. By reclassifying them as unemployed, the total count of unemployed individuals would rise, thereby increasing both the numerical count and the percent of unemployment. This is consistent with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2011) which reported that people with disabilities had a higher rate of unemployment and a lower employment-population ratio compared to those without disabilities. By including people on disability aid in unemployment figures, it would reflect a higher unemployment rate due to their higher non-participation in the workforce.