Unemployment Statistics and Resources for the Unemployed

Ranked #7,344 in Business & Work, #205,073 overall | Donates to Food for Everyone Foundation

Were you fired or part of a layoff? Do you find yourself collecting unemployment?

How many of you have been collecting unemployment for months, years? How many will become unemployed in 2012? A family member of mine will join the ranks in February. With so many unemployed, what do you do?

I want to hear from you, as well as offer resources and information for you.

I don't claim to be an expert, but watched a son struggle for 2 years to get a break and get on his feet after having what seemed to be the perfect job and losing it. In June of 2011 he did get a job, in his field, finally, and as of this update, all seems to be going well.

I have also watched my husband who has had to change jobs 3 times in the past 5 years after working at the same company for 30 years...with pay decreasing and expectations placed on employees increasing.

I feel the pressure to find work myself after being a stay-at-home mom for most of the years that our children were growing up...but what little is available in our area isn't a "fit" with my "ancient skills", in spite of my abilities with a computer and working on the internet. So I am doing all that I can to supplement our income from home. It can be frustrating, discouraging, disheartening, depressing...but it's not hopeless, we can't give up hope.

There is a place on this page to vent some of your unemployment frustrations; a place to find comfort from reading what others share; a place to find resources to help you in your job search...whatever is necessary to navigate these challenging times.

Click for information about the picture---> The Great Depression - Migrant Mother by Dorthea Lange


Claudia a/k/a happynutritionist
Updated 4/22/12

Are You Unemployed?

A short poll

This is a short and confidential unemployment poll, no one will know who you are.

If you would like to share something, when you make your choice, a text box will open where you can provide additional information, but it's' not necessary.

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Current National Unemployment Rate Chart and Graph

CLICK THE IMAGE for more current statistics

Unemployment Rate Chart

This unemployment rate chart covers each month over a period of 10 years from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This image was captured and added at the end of 2010, click the image to be taken to a page with the updated 2011 statistics. The percentage of unemployed has gone down a bit. You can also enter year ranges of your own and see your results.

Unemployed vs Employed

A place to vent

Start typing in the text box and options will appear

Share your unemployment rant or success story

Loading

Yes, I am among the many who are unemployed due to our present economy, here's a little bit of my story:

secondchancesstuff says:

I am in school now, but over the spring and summer months I was scrambling for anything I could get. Turns out face painting is a street performance, which can keep you in Ramen Noodles- if you can find a decent spot.

BellaLexdi says:

My situation is not one of the choices. I am employed as well as my hubby. He came home one day scared that he might lose his job if a federal contract is not renewed. That really scared me as I have known many folks personally who have been unemployed due to the economy. When I heard about a new business opportunity that is going to be launched in the near future, I joined. Presently, I do not need something else to do, but I decided to be proactive and line something else exciting and very promising with results so that we are not caught empty-handed. I am blessed. Not sure which to pick, so I will use BuckHawks strategy and close my eyes |)

ElleDeeEsse says:

Whereas last year I considered myself a stay at home Mum teaching myself strategies to help supplement the household income, I now find myself in the "actively seeking work" category. Our youngest are entering high school *I think that is middle school in the US) and with our family finances desperately stretched I am now seeking employment again. I feel lucky to be in a country where the unemployment rate is between 5-6%

I WAS unemployed, but am working again, here's what happened:

whoisbid says:

I started my own business so I don't have to worry about employment. Now I have the problem of making sure the business has enough money to employ people

BuckHawk says:

Personally, I don't fall into either class, but I have a daughter who is currently unemployed due to economic situation, and I have a son-in-law who has recently gotten a job. So I can't decide which to pick. Close my eyes and ...

 

Are you collecting unemployment, or have your unemployment benefits ended?

My son used up all his extensions before he was finally hired

This is completely confidential, no one, including me, will know who voted.

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Lowest and Highest Unemployment Rates by State

Visit the links provided for current State and local statistics

Here is a list of the percentage of unemployed for each State in the United States as of the end of 2011. Click the link provided below this list for current unemployment rates by state, usually updated each month. For local unemployment statistics, visit this link at Bureau of Labor Statistics.

STATE and % Unemployed as of Dec. 2011:

Alabama 8.1%
Alaska 7.3%
Arizona 8.7%
Arkansas 7.7%
California 11.1%
Colorado 7.9%
Connecticut 8.2%
Delaware 7.4%
D.C. 10.4%
Florida 9.9%
Georgia 9.7%
Hawaii 6.6%
Idaho 8.4%
Illinois 9.8%
Indiana 9.0%
Iowa 5.6%
Kansas 6.3%
Kentucky 9.1%
Louisiana 6.8%
Maine 7.0%
Maryland 6.7%
Massachusetts 6.8%
Michigan 9.3%
Minnesota 5.7%
Mississippi 10.4%
Missouri 8.0%
Montana 6.8%
Nebraska 4.1%
Nevada 12.6%
New Hampshire 5.1%
New Jersey 9.0%
New Mexico 6.6%
New York 8.0%
North Carolina 9.9%
North Dakota 3.3%
Ohio 8.1%
Oklahoma 6.1%
Oregon 8.9%
Pennsylvania 7.6%
Puerto Rico 14.7%
Rhode Island 10.8%
South Carolina 9.5%
South Dakota 4.2%
Tennessee 8.7%
Texas 7.8%
Utah 6.0%
Vermont 5.1%
Virginia 6.2%
Washington 8.5%
West Virginia 7.9%
Wisconsin 7.1%
Wyoming 5.8%

CLICK for latest unemployment rates---> Latest Unemployment Rates and much more.

So, as of the end of 2011, the State with the lowest unemployment rate is North Dakota and the "State" with the highest unemployment rate is Puerto Rico.

Unemployment Quote:

"Hunger is not the worst feature of unemployment; idleness is."

William E. Barrett

Little Victories - Conquering Unemployment

One little victory at a time

Little Victories: Conquering Unemployment

Amazon Price: $16.67 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now
Used Price: $18.69

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Unemployment in the News

Updates every 30 minutes

Keep up with the top unemployment news
German unemployment rate dips below 7 percent
(05-31) 05:12 PDT BERLIN, Germany (AP) -- Germany's unemployment rate dropped below 7 percent in May, the labor agency reported Thursday, as Europe's largest economy performed well despite problems in the eurozone. However, the labor market's momentum ...
US filings for unemployment aid at a 5-week high
WASHINGTON ? The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to a five-week high, evidence that the job market remains sluggish. Meanwhile, the US economy grew at an annual rate of 1.9 percent in the first three months of the year, ...
Pianalto: Will Take 4 To 5 Years To Get To 6% Unemployment Rate
By Michael S. Derby Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--It will take as much as half a decade for the US economy to get back to its natural unemployment rate of around 6% in an economic environment that will require strong Federal Reserve ...
US growth slows to 1.9 pct. annual rate in January-March period; jobless ...
They also expect no change in the unemployment rate, which was 8.1 percent in April. Surveys show the economy is the top issue on voters' minds. Weaker growth and only modest job gains could give momentum to Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential ...

Job Search Tool - Top 5 Results

Look for Jobs by city, state or zip code

I have not entered any job search terms, and these are the top jobs available at Indeed Jobs. Click the following link and visit Indeed Jobs to narrow your job search by city, state, zip, and type of work you are looking for.

P/T PROMOTION ASST - KFI AM 640
Clear Channel Communications - Los Angeles, CA
Clear Channel Radio is currently seeking responsible, outgoing, enthusiastic and friendly individuals to represent the radio station at various promotional... ...
MESSENGER CLERK/RELIEF MAIL CARRIER (Temporary)
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Los Angeles, CA
Basic Function Performs as a Messenger Clerk to pick up and deliver mail to different departments in the Headquarters building. When required to relieve Mail... ...
North Dakota Oil Jobs #2
Minot Area Development Corporation - Minot, ND
Company Description: An economic development corporation. Job Description: Minot, North Dakota has a booming economy including over 30 oil related companies... ...
Table Games Supervisor
Gila River Casinos - Chandler, AZ
This position is responsible for the effective operation of the table games area by supervising dealers and ensuring asset protection and game integrity... ...
Admissions Processing Assistant
George Mason University - Fairfax, VA
Admissions Processing Assistant The George Mason University, Office of Admissions invites applications for a part-time Admissions Processing Assistant position... ...
See more results

Powered by Indeed

Employment in the News

Updates every 30 minutes

US Private-Sector Employment Increased by 133000 Jobs in May, According to ADP ...
ROSELAND, NJ, May 31, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Private-sector employment increased by 133000 from April to May on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report(R) released today. The ADP National Employment ...
Canada March Employment, Earnings and Hours Report (Text)
By Ilan Kolet on May 31, 2012 The following is the text of Canada's employment, earnings, and hours report for March released by Statistics Canada. In March, average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees were $888.34, up 0.8% from the previous ...
Randstad US Employment Report: Workers Uncertain About Job Market; Index ...
Across the board, the survey reveals that more employees took a middle of the road stance when it comes to the economy, job market, and their personal employment situation. "Despite the slight decrease seen in our latest report, we shouldn't disregard ...
UN Green Economy Report Suggests Net Employment Gains From Taking Care Of Planet
But the heads of the UN's International Labor Organization and the UN Environment Program emphasized that net gains of 0.5 percent to 2 percent in total global employment are possible, mainly through more renewable and efficient energy use.

Funny Unemployment Videos

You have to laugh sometimes

It's not easy to be unemployed, and some do become discouraged and depressed. Sometimes you need something to put a smile on your face. I hope these videos do that for you today...this is part of the "Tragically Unemployed" series.
Loading

Share or bookmark this page

Add this to your lens »

Bookmark and Share

50 Ways to Survive Unemployment

Available new in Paperback and for Kindle for under $10.

iJobless: 50 ways to Survive Unemployment

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

A reader's review:

"The author, Jenny Holmes, hits the concept of being unemployed on the head. This book not only offers unique ways to stay on your feet during a stint of unemployment, but some of her tips are even benifical for those who are still employed and just want to save some money during this economic recession! iJobless is easy and entertaining to read. I would recommend it to anyone! This book is also a great motivational tool to help yourself get on the right track to finding a new job and becoming iEmployed! "

Release Date: 12/31/1969

Usually ships in 24 hours

Book above available on Kindle

Loading

% Donated to Food for Everyone

You can also give directly

All of my pages on Squidoo are set so that a percentage of most purchases made through the site goes to charity, in this case Food for Everyone. You can also give directly.

The Food For Everyone Foundation's mission is to teach and assist families everywhere to grow successful and sustainable vegetable gardens, and really enjoy the experience.

Thumbs up, Pins, Facebook and Tweets

Thank you

If you enjoyed your visit, click the "thumbs up" here at the top and bottom of this page. We love Pinterest Pins, Twitter Tweets, and the like, so if you feel so inclined, use the bookmark bar below or buttons on the top and bottom of this page.

If you aren't a member of Squidoo, click here and join us by starting a lens (page like this one). It's a fun and easy way to share your interests, business, anything you want to share! You can get a page started to join, then come back and work on it later when you have more time.

Add this to your lens »

Bookmark and Share

This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

Add this to your lens »

Say Hello or Share Whatever You'd Like Here

Guestbook

Please say hello, or share whatever you would like that doesn't fit into the opportunities to share above.

  • Lamar_Morgan Sep 12, 2011 @ 4:52 pm | delete
    I want to encourage all those in career transition to STOP sending out paper resumes'. It is a waste of your time and money. Instead, set up a Linkedin account and post your resume' in your Profile section and load up a copy of the resume' document in the free BoxNet app so others can easily download it.

    Also, start making and using a Need Sheet. A Need Sheet is an un-resume'. No need for academic or past employer information. Just links to proof that you have VALUE to an employer. Want to see an example? Visit http://About.Me/LamarMorgan.
  • happynutritionist Sep 19, 2011 @ 12:45 pm | delete
    Thanks, Lamar..I stopped by and visited your lenses, like the one with all the info about you, another great way to let people know about your experience. I have an about.me/claudiameydrech (or is it happynutritionist?) page and like the feature, it takes a little long to load sometimes, but a great way to put concise information with links to more about you...I like it.
  • whoisbid Sep 3, 2011 @ 2:32 am | delete
    I think that there are lots of opportunities for people who really want to work hard and do well but finding those kinds of employers may take some time and you need a lot of patience and encouragement in the process of job finding
  • happynutritionist Sep 19, 2011 @ 12:46 pm | delete
    Yes, a lot of patience and encouragement. It took my son over a year to get the job he has now, he went to a group in NJ that helps those who are unemployed...helped him keep his focus...did take a lot of time a patience.
  • BuckHawk Jan 9, 2011 @ 6:45 am | delete
    Very thought-provoking lens. Barrett's quote is so true. Those used to working are having a hard time with their idleness more than anything. I would like to add that UNDER-employment is an issue, too. Those folks that had to take part-time jobs to try to help out are in a really tough situation.

    It's wonderful that added resources for those needing it. Very nice job.
  • DecoratingforEvents Jan 4, 2011 @ 7:45 pm | delete
    The economy has played havoc with our family but have are working our way back everyday and thankful we have each other!
  • Norma_Budden Jan 4, 2011 @ 1:27 pm | delete
    Thankfully, I am among the employed and there are no concerns about the security of my job. It comes with great benefits, as well, which takes care of the basic needs of the family with a nominal fee per paycheque.

    There are bills to be paid, however, and this can be a stress factor, in itself, at times. However, within the next few months, I'm hoping everything will be resolved. Thankfully, even now, it doesn't seem as though there is a noose tightening around my neck but, when it comes to bills, it's always best to have no noose at all.
  • Fitzcharming Jan 4, 2011 @ 6:43 am | delete
    Fortunately I have a very good job but my husband has been unemployed for 9 months. Currently he's working a seasonal temporary job sorting mail for the postal service. It is just a 4 week long job but he was happy to get it. The stint ends this week though. Back to the drawing board for him.
  • ElleDeeEsse Jan 4, 2011 @ 12:15 am | delete
    I have just completed a semester course for Women returning to work or study. It was great for both skills and confidence. Do you have anything like that in your part of the world?
  • happynutritionist Jan 4, 2011 @ 12:20 am | delete
    There may be such a thing, but I haven't researched it...maybe because I'm not as serious about returning to work as I should be...and nice that your country is relatively low in it's unemployment rate right now.
  • Tipi Jan 2, 2011 @ 9:33 am | delete
    Wonderfully done and I got my ranting done for the day, a cleansing experieince. I've already lensrolled to my RACA: Men and Women for Hire lens
  • happynutritionist Jan 4, 2011 @ 12:22 am | delete
    Thanks a bunch, Tipi, I'll go check out your page. Always love your visits.
Loading

Random unrelated pages you might like

Loading

by

happynutritionist

Unemployment has visited our home, and left it's mark, but there is hope.
Follow me on Twitter
Find me on Facebook
I'm a Squid Angel
Share your Lenses...
more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Baby Boomer Penny Pincher 

Loading

Joy of Not Working 

Beginners Guide to Making Money Online 

Step by Step Advice