Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


3

Unemployment Hits 8.5%, Highest in 25 Years

Share

(Newser) – Another punishing month of job losses in March has pushed unemployment to a 25-year-high of 8.5%, the Labor Department said today. Total job losses for the 16-month recession have now passed 5 million. Nonfarm payrolls fell 663,000 in March, which mostly matched analyst estimates, the Wall Street Journal reports. But January’s losses were revised upward to 741,000, making it the third-worst month ever recorded.

Job losses were spread across all industries, the department said, but they were especially steep in manufacturing, construction, and temporary help services. The unemployment rate, which is determined by surveying households rather than companies, climbed to its highest level since 1983.

People take notes during a seminar at the Access Opportunity Career Fair in Boston Thursday, April 2, 2009, which was held to assist job seekers in a bleak job markert.
People take notes during a seminar at the Access Opportunity Career Fair in Boston Thursday, April 2, 2009, which was held to assist job seekers in a bleak job markert.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
A career fair attendee looks around the room in New York, Thursday, April 2, 2009.
A career fair attendee looks around the room in New York, Thursday, April 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
People line up at a Workforce Plus job fair, Thursday, March 26, 2009, in Tallahassee, Fla.
People line up at a Workforce Plus job fair, Thursday, March 26, 2009, in Tallahassee, Fla.   (AP Photo/Phil Coale)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
3 comments
VIEWING:
 
Mr.C
Apr 3, 09 9:25 AM CDT
Today's newser story "Strapped Californians Pan Like It's 1849" says employment is at 10.5%. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
SPH
Apr 3, 09 7:35 PM CDT
That's unemployment and applies to California only....
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
Mr.C
Apr 4, 09 12:02 PM CDT
thanks
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

77 Stories

 Unemployment to Stay 
 High for Years 

Fed officials predict it will take about 5 years to return to normal

Nov 24, 09 4:13 PM CST
(Newser) - Unemployment will remain higher than normal for years to come, Fed officials predicted today. Even at the end of 2012, the rate is forecast to be between 6.8% and 7.5%—a decent turnaround from the current 10.2% but still about 2 points higher than the figure in... More »

MORE ABOUT:
unemployment • job cuts • job • jobless • unemployment rate

 AOL to Lay Off a Third of Staff 

Roughly 2300 will get the boot after spin-off

Nov 19, 09 8:13 AM CST
(AP) - AOL says it plans to cut about a third of its work force once it is spun off from Time Warner. That would amount to nearly 2,300 of the roughly 6,900 workers at the struggling company. AOL said in a securities filing today it will impose the cuts... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Time Warner • AOL • unemployment • job cuts

 Unemployment Jumps to 10.2% 

Companies cut 190,000 jobs last month

Nov 6, 09 7:50 AM CST
(Newser) - Unemployment cracked the 10% barrier last month, as 190,000 workers lost their jobs, according to Labor Department figures released today. The bigger-than-expected losses bring the rate to 10.2%, a 26-year high. And the underemployment rate, which includes would-be full-timers working part time and those who've given up looking... More »

MORE ABOUT:
recession • unemployment • Department of Labor • payrolls • economy • underemployment • unemployment rate

77 Stories


Explaining employment statistics
Washington Post

A jobs report FAQ
New York Times


Business 
TwitterFollow @NewserBusiness on Twitter

 
unemployment • Department of Labor • payrolls • job cuts • job

from our news partners