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Government

U.S. Unemployment Drops to 8.1 Percent

Sep. 7, 2012 8:40am Billy Hallowell

Just two months before the 2012 presidential election takes place, unemployment has fallen to 8.1 percent, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Additionally, the economy added 96,000 jobs in August. Despite a slight decrease in the rate, there are some economic indicators that continue to be troubling. ABC News has more:

The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent as the economy slogged along for the 43nd month in a row with joblessness above 8 percent.

Economists expected an addition of 125,000 total nonfarm jobs in August, which would leave the unemployment rate unchanged at 8.3 percent.

As the AP notes, the relatively low jobs figure — 96,000 — could slow any political momentum that President Barack Obama experiences in the wake of the Democratic National Convention.

The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July, but only because more people gave up looking for work. The government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively searching.

The Labor Department also says 41,000 fewer jobs were created in July and June than first estimated. The economy has added just 139,000 jobs a month since the beginning of the year, below 2011′s average of 153,000.

The bleak report comes just two months before Election Day, and the economy is the top issue on most voters’ minds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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Comments (104)

ChiefGeorge
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:11am
Look BHO’s goal is to break America so he can rebuild it in his image and be remembered in history for all time. He could not just take something handed to him and make it better, no, he has to totally remake it and the only way that can be done is from the bottom up. FDR and company got a try at this and failed but are hailed as the champions who got us out of the last depression which we now know is hogwash. If America’s economic engine is shut off, it might not ever really be restarted because politician like BHO will make sure that it doesn’t. To make America into this new idea, America’s power has to be dealt with and that is its economy. Bring it down and bring down the USA for all time.

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ChiefGeorge
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:07am
Everything is tracking along right on schedule.

Gas and food prices going through the roof. Pretty soon you will not be able to hide how bad things really are for the average American. By that time, he will already have secured his second term and be turning the screws down tighter on every facet of the economy.

He wants everyone in this country in the same boat. Savings spent, assets sold off, debts piled high, food stamp enrolled, welfare check in hand. Welcome to the new American depression propped up with government handouts. Thats if you can even get them when you REALLY need them.

Prepare now, make a life boat for your family and friends while you can…maybe you’ll be able to bridge the gap between insanity and real hope. You should have been doing this as soon as this guy got elected but its never too late to start while you still have something to spend.

He told us what he was going to do and that was fundamentally change America…what do you believe that change was/is?

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- Mapache
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:16am
  I partially agree but the Tea Party and the elections of 2010 really screwed up his plans. Once the GOP took control of the House they could put the breaks on programs and start some much needed investigations. Of course Obama then tried to use executive orders and agency rules what he could not get through congress such as the dream act. Sixty days to go…hang in there, help is on the way!
  
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- 13th Imam
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:16am
  Economist’s “Surprised ” at glowing job figures . August jobless rate “Revised” upward to 8.4%
  
  Rush is always correct at these shams of Gov figures.
  
  Report this comment
- hold_my_stones
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:29am
  More manipulated #’s by the obama regime. Obama’s fleecing of the sheep are alive & well. This guy has to be stopped!
  
  Report this comment
- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:52am
  Cooking he books again, just in time or the election. In Realville, unemployment is much higher.
  
  Report this comment
- StillSober
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:01am
  The TEA Party is the only hope we have to change the direction of this country, for the past 100 years the progressives have been slowly nudging us towards communism as Khrushchev said “We can’t expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism.”
  
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Rickfromillinois
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:05am
So the unemployment rate dropped only because so many people left the workforce, not because of how many people found jobs. That is the dirty little secret about the unemployment rate, it is based on how many people who are collecting unemployment. If you don’t collect unemployment then you don’t count. That being the case, the unemployment rate only dropped not because of how many people were hired but how many stopped getting unemployment checks. The 96,000 jobs created is a DISASTER. You need to create about 250,000 jobs a month just to keep up with new people entering the workforce. This is TERRIBLE news for the Obama regime.

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- CatB
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:24am
  I am one of those uncounted people who wants a job .. HOW DO I GET COUNTED? Anyone know how we … the unreported get on the count?
  
  Report this comment
- TPITED
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:37am
  To CATB! To get counted again pull the R lever in November.
  
  Report this comment
- Want our country back
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:47am
  September 7, 2012
  We Have Ways of Making You Change Your Mind
  http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/09/we_have_ways_of_making_you_change_your_mind.html#ixzz25n7YHaZDInternal emails between senior officials at The Gallup Organization, obtained by The Daily Caller, show senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod attempting to subtly intimidate the respected polling firm when its numbers were unfavorable to the president.
  After Gallup declined to change its polling methodology, Obama’s Department of Justice hit it with an unrelated lawsuit that appears damning on its face. (snip)
  Since Gallup first roused Axelrod’s ire, Obama’s Justice Department revived old allegations against the firm that, according to now former Gallup employee Michael Lindley, the polling company violated the False Claims Act by over-charging the federal government for its services.
  In August, Justice signed on to a suit Lindley filed in 2009. Lindley alleged, according to The Associated Press, that Gallup filed false claims with the federal government on contracts it had with the State Department, the U.S. Mint and other federal agencies.
  Some of the Gallup people involved felt so intimidated that
  In response to that email, a third senior Gallup official said he thought Axelrod’s pressure “sounds a little like a Godfather situation.”
  “Imagine Axel[rod] with Brando’s voice: ‘[Name redacted], I’d like you to come over and explain your methodology… You got a nice poll there… would be
  
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- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:50am
  Labor participation rate dropped to a 31 year low. 63.5% In August roughly 350K people simply left the market. The participation rate, total employment, and total full time vs. part time employment…these are the numbers to watch. Yes, they all suck.
  
  Report this comment
The_Jerk
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:04am
The promise was that it wouldn’t go above 8% when he was given his stimulus package. Trying to make bad news sound good?

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13Lena
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:01am
Just saw Stuart Varney the only reason the unemployment rate dropped is because 365,000 people have stopped looking because they are discouraged. Obama can try to spin this but he can’t. Under Bush and Clinton unemployment was under six percent. Most of the 96,000 jobs are service jobs like McDonald’s and restaurant. We are in a serious crisis mode here.

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- Walkabout
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:05am
  “Most of the 96,000 jobs are service jobs ”
  Post a link please
  
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- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:52am
  ‘Post a link please’? I seriously doubt there’s even 96,000 jobs to begin with. Where do you think they’re hiring? Teaching? The auto industry? Professional people? General factory work ? ( I mean places that pay a living wage.) Construction? I think someone should post a link so you can get to your own bathroom..
  
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essence428
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:00am
and in a few days, probably on a Friday when no one is paying attention, they’ll realease the REAL REVISED numbers. They do it everytime…nothing coming out of this administration can be trusted.

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- CatB
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:25am
  Exactly true …. happens EVERY month!
  
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:59am
Here we go again with the distortions and fabrications of Obamanomics; Glenn told that the number of unemployment would suddenly drop as the elections closed; and now we are seeing the smoke and mirrors of Obama at work.

Watch for a sudden ‘drop’ that is phony near the end of September to say, 7% or lower, a ‘miracle’ Obama will fabricate to try and claim sudden success with the economy.

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- Popp40
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:31am
  I figured the rate would be near 4% by now and -100% (that was not a typo) at election time with this administration…..I mean they already had the numbers to prove it last year.
  
  I do not believe these numbers and think the real unemployment and underemployment is well over 25%.
  
  Report this comment
Detroit paperboy
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:58am
The good news is 78,000 people were sign up for permanent disability…………..yay !

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- Operaman
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:17am
  This may be off-topic, but as someone who represents disability claimants I can say that we are really scraping the bottom of the barrel with this. It’s almost impossible to find a client who is really deserving of disability anymore. This IS the new unemployment insurance, and it’s disgusting. That’s why we’re not taking new disability clients, and I feel truly sorry for folks who have actually earned it and have to wait three years because of these freeloaders.
  
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RIGS
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:55am
HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The numbers were cooked just in time after the socialist convention. The lies and deceit just keeps tumbling out from the socialist regime,

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- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:03am
  How so? It seems to me companies anticipating Obama’s departure may increase hiring even before the election. But since what I say doesn’t matter to most, then I know I can say the truth, and it will fall on deaf ears. It’s because you folks are so used to forked tongues, and it’s also your language. The truth of the matter is that companies will hire people anticipating Obama’s departure, but of course the lowering unemployment numbers will help the Democrat vote, because most people won’t think about the lower numbers past an initial thought. Thus they will credit Obama.
  
  Report this comment
- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:15am
  It it has mostly to do with a larger number of Republicans loving money more than intelligence, and the fear of sin. A simple Biblical explanation would be as if to say they tried to go up on the dry ground but their chariot wheels got bogged down in the mud.
  
  Report this comment
- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:21am
  Therefore when Obama gets back in office, Republicans will have had a large hand in him getting reelected. And then as usual the Republican company owners will then let go their new hires, because they planned for a different President, but it didn’t happen – and yet again because of their greed they will cause the newly unemployed more tribulation.
  
  Report this comment
- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:22am
  I don’t like people on either side of the aisle very much.
  
  Report this comment
- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:38am
  Moreover, Republican company owners will be hiring over the next couple months, because they perceive Obama leaving office. Yet it’s a win win situation for them, because if Obama gets reelected then the company owner can just fire the newly hired before the end of their probation period, and they also won’t have to pay in unemployment compensation.
  
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- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:42am
  That’s why many Republican company owners enjoy hiring illegals (in addition to lower pay), because then they don’t feel compelled to fire the worker after an election if they guess the election results wrongly.
  
  Report this comment
- TPITED
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:44am
  @ waterspeople
  Well I would love to believe your point and I will if you can show me how only 96 K jobs reduces the UE rate by .2 %. BTW is your favorite flavor grape or punch?
  
  Report this comment
- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:45am
  That’s why when Glenn Beck talks-up companies and their owners it goes in my ear and out the other – I don’t indulge in that pork.
  
  Report this comment
- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:52am
  @ Water,
  
  Participation rate dropped to 63.5%…the lowest in over 30 years. The rate went down because 350K fell out of the job market. You were saying?
  
  Report this comment
- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:58am
  Furthermore, there are over 8M people working PT now. This is DOUBLE what it was when Obama took office. Also, there are 5.2M “slack” PT workers. This means they are PT because they can’t find FT work. This number is also DOUBLE what it was when Obama took office. Even month to month in August there are 100K people LESS working in August than July despite the continued shift to PT work. There are less people working and the population is growing. This is why the labor participation rate is declining. You can’t fake that stat. U3/U6 is for suckers.
  
  Report this comment
- GlennaBeckski
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:04am
  Yup! Hail to the chief … Get your rose colored glasses here .. rose colored glasses $10 dolla
  Crisis is over in America Folks.. Nothing to see here.. Go back to work..
  
  I’m willing to bet it will drop in the 7 range by the time the election is here. Gas prices should follow, Stock market keeps rising .. Food prices stabilze .. etc. Enjoy the prosperity while you can..
  
  After the election we’ll collectively be singing “Happy Days are Here Again” or “Crazy”.
  
  Report this comment
- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:16am
  When someone who has written a report or an article says “The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July, but only because more people gave up looking for work. The government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively searching.” It’s an [opinion], because everything all people say is merely an [opinion]. But (just as Democrats do) Republicans only give menial incomplete facets of the entire make-up of the moving tides that create unemployment numbers. The truth of the matter is that the average American is dumb money, and much to simple to understand or want to understand the multidimensional aspects affecting employment. They’d rather put their energy into memorizing their favorite teams football plays, and the names of all the team members so they can speak intelligently to other mindless sports-bots.
  
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- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:25am
  Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve,
  Not everyone was born just yesterday. The larger portion of companies would love to only have part-time workers who they can work 38 (close enough to 40 hrs) hours or less per-week. More so they would love to work them 60 hrs with calling 60 hrs part time if they could. Then they don’t have to pay in the large sums of money that comes with having a full-time staff. Because there is labor laws, and also tax, and community tax exemptions given to companies for carrying a certain number of full time staff.
  
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- watersRpeople
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:34am
  If you really want to believe the main reason unemployment numbers went down because Tens of thousands of people quit looking for work or fell off the roles [in] the month of July – then you go. But I know what the truth is, and also the truth is unemployment numbers going down will help get more votes for Obama.
  
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- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:54am
  LOL. OK Water. I get it. You know what you know and you aren’t going to let facts get in the way.
  
  Just make sure that you know that total labor participation rate is the lowest it has been in 30 years.
  Male labor participation rate is the lowest it has been since 1948.
  PT and Slack employment is the highest percentage of total employment that it has ever been.
  
  These facts are undeniable. You can spin the rest all that you like.
  
  Report this comment
woodyee
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:55am
Limbaugh prepared us yesterday, for a “miracle” today. I don’t believe it, especially since I live near Ontario, CA, where the unemployment rate is >14%.

I wonder what the unemployment rate would be, if the Dakotas were taken out of the equation?

Lefty or Conservative, check out your state’s unemployment rate here – http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm

Someone find a comparison red state vs blue state and post a link please?

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- ChiefGeorge
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:00am
  14% may actually be a conservative number for the IE.
  
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Operaman
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:55am
The headline of this story should be: “Only 96K jobs created, far fewer than expected”
The useful idiots out there will look at the existing headline and think that’s a good thing.

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- bandi9
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:58am
  totally agreed;misleading headline
  
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- yougottabekidding
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:04am
  how many of those were temperary jobs out of temp agencies?
  
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huey6367
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:54am
What is the true unemplyment rate (U6)? That tells the story.

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Gonzo
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:53am
96K is anemic job growth. The drop is due to people giving up on finding a job. Are Americans awake enough to notice?

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- huey6367
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:02am
  Sadly, I don’t think many look beyond the number (8.1%) that is spewed.
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:07am
  I know. With the cheerful help of the MSM this will played off like a victory for Obama.
  
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BOstinks
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:52am
Wow! Way to go Barack, I guess there really isn’t a reason to have an election with results like this!? (The 23 million still out of work probably won’t vote anyway) Does anyone think that the books may have been cooked just a little? Naw of course not, Debbie “What’s Her Face” wasn’t involved – was she? :)

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Cymry
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:52am
that manipulation of labor statistics is so blatently obvious it isn’t even funny. reminds me of how North Korea has full employment. geez! they insult our intelligence as a last act of defiance seemingly.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:19am
  No kidding. Obama’s next score card may include 12 hole in ones like Kim Jong Il’s first round ever did.
  
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huey6367
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:52am
I don’t believe this for a second. This is the Barry administration manipulating the numbers to make him look good for the general election. A 0.2 point drop? And only 96,000 jobs were added – lower than the 125,000 that was expected. It makes no mathematical sense that is drops that much. Even if they added 125,000 jobs it would not drop that much.

Corruption is rampant in the OB administration. Something is very rotten in Washington.

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R4M0N
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:51am
Last night Obama promised to add 1 million manufacturing jobs by the end of his second term. At this pace, I guess he’s planning on being President for another 10 years.

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- kaydeebeau
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:59am
  If you notice though he didn’t say where those jobs would be…. People assume he means in the US….see 2016 Obama’s America and you will know what he really means with everyword he doesn’t speak
  
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waresite
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:50am
Bull@#$*

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- yougottabekidding
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:00am
  That means more people ran out of benifits and stopped looking! We can not get much lower in jobs there won’t be anyone flipping bergers.
  Now they no longer count! They have been dropped out of the new math system.
  Tell me how many people are working in comparison to how many were working when they took over.
  How many of those people lost their jobs overseas by GE, NASA, and on it goes.
  
  Report this comment
biohazard23
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:49am
And the revised numbers are….?

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- Walkabout
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 10:20am
  “41,000 fewer jobs were created in July and June than first estimated. The economy has added just 139,000 job”
  
  41k is 29% of 139k average.
  
  Their estimates are for SH__!
  
  But they want their worthless estimates to wave a shiny object before the American people via the compliant & complicit media
  
  Report this comment
Redsbengalsbucks
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:49am
How can 96,000 jobs added drop the unemployment rate 0.2%. Seems fishy to me.

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- Patrick
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:56am
  Read the numbers. It also takes into account the amount of PEOPLE that actually left the job force. These numbers are not good.
  
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Patrick
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:49am
Not good for Obama…..Not good for the American people.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:29am
  The MSM will make it good for Obama.
  
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Operaman
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:48am
So now we’re adding less than 100K per month, and more are dropping out of the search for work. Nice one, Obama! That’s certainly a reason to give you four more years!

There goes your bounce, Barry!!!!

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Cymry
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:47am
To borrow a line I’ve heard recently…….You didn’t lower that on your own.

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Alvin691
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:47am
Again, waiting on the actual details. This administration spins everything, so I’m wondering how many more people dropped out of the workforce. How many students are back in college with work-study, etc.

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Cemoto78
Posted on September 7, 2012 at 8:46am
368,000 dropped out of workforce
96,000 jobs created
8.1% unemployment
whats the under employment figure?

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- 13Lena
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:03am
  Oh you beat me to it. I posted the same thing. lol. Cemoto78 glad you are so informed. It is good we have such great members here that cut through Obama’s BS. Thank you.
  
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- tlincoln02
  Posted on September 7, 2012 at 9:30am
  unemployment rates u1-u6
  
  http://portalseven.com/employment/unemployment_rate_u6.jsp
  
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