-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 T3oD/cYufvXY+hldDnavVUkpwd/4hOI7cxfnNGXREEYNn53tpZ6oU9KR3Yo+juVe
 4EUPyPwENjM0TJyM3cPWRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001241078-09-000001.txt : 20090805
<SEC-HEADER>0001241078-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090805
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090805151803
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001241078-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090805
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090805
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090805

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAKER DENNIS WAYNE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241078

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05707
		FILM NUMBER:		09988058

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29 PRALL'S LOOP
		CITY:			HIGHWOOD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60040

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENERAL EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000040570
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES [7361]
		IRS NUMBER:				366097429
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TOWER LANE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2200
		CITY:			OAKBROOK TERRACE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60181
		BUSINESS PHONE:		630-954-0400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TOWER LANE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2200
		CITY:			OAKBROOK TERRACE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60181

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OSHEA CHARLES M CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19670413
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000040570</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENERAL EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>job</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241078</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAKER DENNIS WAYNE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GENERAL EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE TOWER LANE SUITE 2200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OAKBROOK TERRACE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60181</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.5652</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dennis W Baker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----