US

Unemployment Hits 9.8

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s unemployment rate climbed to 9.8 percent in November, a seven-month high, as hiring slowed.

Employers added only 39,000 jobs last month, a sharp decline from the 172,000 created in October, the Labor Department reported Friday. The weakness was widespread. Retailers, factories, construction companies, financial firms and the government all cut jobs last month.

Many economists were predicting the addition of nearly 150,000 jobs. The economy has recently flashed signs of gaining momentum with busier factories, rising auto sales and a good start to the holiday shopping season. But that didn’t translate into mass hiring in November.

In fact, private companies – the backbone of the economy – created 50,000 jobs. That was down significantly from the 160,000 private-sector jobs created in October and was the smallest gain since January.

With hiring so weak, the unemployment rate rose from 9.6 percent to 9.8 percent. The jobless rate has now topped 9 percent for 19 straight months, the longest stretch on record.

All told there were 15.1 million people unemployed in November.

Adding those unemployed people to others who are working part time but would prefer full-time jobs and those who have given up looking for work, 17 percent of the labor force is “underemployed.” That was the same as October. Still, the figure remains close to a record high set last year.

Another grim figure: There was a record 1.3 million “discouraged” workers in November. Those are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available to them.

Comments (91)

1 2 3
  • NO_POTTERSVILLE
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 12:08pm

    To add to my last comment, the longer you are out of the work, the worse it looks on you from an employers perspective. I ofter here employers say “hmm, I see you’ve been out of work for 1 year, etc.
    Employers don‘t want to hire people who’ve been out of work for 1 year, 2 years, etc. I’ve even been willing to take a job that was way beneath my skill level at a very low pay rate.

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 12:03pm

    it is over 16% in the rural county we retired to from a Major City. we already support 2/3rds of the county with our taxes, and just heard 2 more major companies where most of the people WHO work are laying off. BurgerKing went broke here, all we have is a McDs and a PizzaHut.. and those low-IQ schoolkids are hanging on to those jobs for dear life.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • NO_POTTERSVILLE
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:59am

    To those who say that people on unemployment are lazy and don’t want to work, you’re wrong. I’ve been unemployed for 2 years next week. I’ve only been on unemployment for a few months now. I lived off my savings, 401k. I worked in IT for over 20 years, so that‘s what I know and I’m good at. Over the last 2 years, I’ve applied for jobs at lowes, home depot, safeway, etc. The reason I don‘t get hired is because I’m just a tad over qualified. No matter what the job is, companies don’t want to have to spend extra time and money to train people.

    Report Post »  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:43am

    I wanna know where all them there SHOVEL READY JOBS ARE!!!! Haven’t seen many of them, like pappy said “their scarecer than hen’s teeth. Now the unemployment is up to 9.8%. Yeah, and I live at the north pole. It’s was there last year. They just don’t want the people to know exactly what it is. So they give us meaningless numbers, so we think we know the truth.

    Report Post »  
  • OkiePatriot
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:13am

    It will stay high as long as the govt. keeps extending benefits….you cant find a job in 99 weeks? You dont want to work IMHO!

    Report Post »  
    • OneRepublic4us
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 12:09pm

      This is not true. I‘ve been applying for job after job after job and I don’t get ANY calls at all. I’ve been applying for jobs that pay less than half of what I was paid when I was laid off and still I get no calls. Honestly NO ONE IS HIRING. Some weeks it’s hard to even find a job to apply for. For every job posted there are hundreds of applicants looking for a job. I desperately want to go back to work.

      Report Post » OneRepublic4us  
    • Shamokin_CoalCracker
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 3:47pm

      and,if by chance you would lose your job you would certainly do what is right and not apply for unemployment, maybe you just like to continue the worn out rant that ALL the unemployed are just lazy and enjoy living off 1/2 or less of what they earned working along with losing health insurance if they had it through their employer.I worked the same job 38 years,been off 7 months.No work here for this 63 year old guy so OAKIE take your opinion and SHOVE IT—-LAZY I AM NOT–If I struck a nerve–TOO damn bad

      Report Post » Shamokin_CoalCrackers  
  • BRAVEHEART
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:05am

    I guess shoveling the Demwits out of the White house and Congress is the only real shovel ready job worth doing! The commies have never produced a healthy economy in the history of the world.

    Report Post »  
  • the point
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:05am

    9.8 is what the government says. Do you believe them???

    Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 12:21pm

      Let me think…(smoke bellows from ears)…no.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • ADDICTED TO TRUTH
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 1:11pm

      Absolutely NOT…..do not believe ANY numbers that come down the pike…..Bernanke will look at the camera, smile and tell you there is no inflation either, but all you have to do is go to the store to prove that wrong….and woo hoo….how bout those gas prices….

      Report Post » ADDICTED TO TRUTH  
  • mtnclimberjim
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 10:32am

    I just let my last employee go. My wife and I will now run this business on our own. Went shooting yesterday.

    Report Post » mtnclimberjim  
  • wodiej
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:58am

    Many people unemployed who would rather be working.

    Report Post »  
    • youguysready_letsroll
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:36am

      Yep! It’s kind of hard to reach your goals by depending on unemployment benefits (or worse no money at all).

      Report Post » youguysready_letsroll  
  • osagetrail
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:56am

    Big Surprise! The best unemployment news for us will be the White House.

    Report Post »  
  • HumanDoing
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:47am

    I think its really gonna spike next month with all this dems out of work…Oh wait no it will balance out with all the newbs coming in … my bad

    Report Post » HumanDoing  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:46am

    Well just look at it this way. If you are working full time, and paying your bills on time. Then how is the government going to take care of you. They only ones that want the Democrats in office. Are the ones that want to be taken care of, like being spoon fed, not having to make any decisions, to give you money that you haven’t earned. Those people that want to work for a living and owe no one are the ones that are having to pay for the ones that don’t.

    Report Post »  
  • dantom
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:36am

    What the hell happened to it will not go over 8 per cent?

    Report Post »  
    • heavyduty
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:44am

      Obama happened. Have you seen him touch anything that didn’t turn to crap.

      Report Post »  
    • HumanDoing
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:48am

      It didnt….it went over 9.5 …. He didn’t lie

      Report Post » HumanDoing  
    • youguysready_letsroll
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:39am

      He also said if you make under $200k then your taxes won’t go up 1 dime.

      Report Post » youguysready_letsroll  
    • Vie_En_Ras
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:44pm

      Well, he was right about the not one dime, it’s more like a collection of dimes… nickles and quarters too. Possibly some dollars.

      Report Post » Vie_En_Ras  
  • TXPilot
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:35am

    As bad as it is now, just think what things are going to be like in the very near future. When most everyone is unemployed, the government freebies end and the “civil unrest” begins. Prepare now, so you can take care of yourself and your family later.

    Report Post » TXPilot  
  • NHABE64
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:34am

    Barack Hussein Obama, quite a guy isn’t he ? Certainly not to blame for ALL of it, but this socialist cockroach has had an evil plan to bankrupt our great country by making us in to a world socialist state. What does this mean, it means spreading what wealth we have left among those freeloaders and bums who sit on their ass and draw their government checks. It means sending billions of dollars overseas to help “other” countries improve as we perish. This communist piece of crap should be given a swift kick in his socialist ass out the back door and imprisoned for life., He is a devil and we have been hoodwinked by this slick talking flim flam narcissist. Thank God the GOP is taking over and thank God America has awoken from its slumber and hopefully will vote this phoney out of office in 2012. Nor more LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES in office, we do not need a bigger government and we are going to be handing out a LOT more pink slips in two years. God bless this Christian nation, We the People are in the process of taking back this country and we have had enough of this chicken crap as Mr. Boehner calls these liberal garbage in the House and Senate.

    Report Post »  
  • vonryansexpress
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:34am

    Look to the left of you. Look to the right of you. One of you will be unemployed and in major metro areas, the numbers are deep and institutionalizing.

    Of all the defining characteristics of the failed Obama Presidency, the one that will be his touchstone is the unemployment and the refusal to make it job one when he came into office.

    It is almost as if this Administration wanted individual savings, reserves and security to be used and depleted. You’d think a Democrat administraion would have jumped on jobs over health care but it was not to be for the Obama team.

    Where will Mr. Obama go when his day is done?

    Report Post »  
  • charliego
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:34am

    ECONOMIC restructuring and rebound effect is working—just like they tell us daily!!! Working to continue the destruction of our great country.

    Report Post » charliego  
    • Bronco II
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:51am

      Yes the first President to be called a HUMAN RECKING BALL Rush said it and it fits this guy to the tee.

      Report Post » Bronco II  
  • chickenlittle
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:30am

    As Democrats kept creating jobs on the public payroll with expanded govt. in any form, they knew that it it is more and more impossible for us to have meaningful cutbacks in spending. For every private sector job created, that means to cut back, some unfortunate person on a public payroll someplace is going to lose theirs. It is so out of balance right now in this country that cutting back on govt. spending is not going to save us without a heck of a lot of sacrifice. This country was set on a track of collapse a long time ago… as soon as government employment employment was more expensive than private output, which was a ways back in time. I’d still like to see the figures for unemployment broken down for public and private employees. And this wouldn’t even count the private jobs that are based solely on government contracts.

    Report Post » chickenlittle  
  • B. Dawgn-Auff
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:26am

    Mr President:
    Your love, liftin’ me higher
    Than I’ve ever been lifted before
    So keep it up, quench my desire
    And I’ll be at your side forevermore

    You know your love (your love keeps liftin’ me)
    Keeps on liftin’ (your love keeps liftin’ me)
    Higher (liftin’ me, liftin’ me), higher, and higher (higher)
    I said your love (your love keeps liftin’ me)
    Keeps on (liftin’ me, liftin’ me)
    Liftin’ me (liftin’ me) higher and higher (higher)

    Now once I was downhearted
    Disappointment was my closest friend
    But then you came and he soon departed
    And you know he never showed his face again
    That’s why your love (your love keeps liftin’ me)
    Keeps on liftin’ (your love keeps liftin’ me)
    Higher (liftin’ me, liftin’ me), higher, and higher (higher)
    I said your love (your love keeps liftin’ me)
    Keeps on (liftin’ me, liftin’ me)
    Liftin’ me (liftin’ me) higher and higher (higher)
    Awww

    I’m so glad I finally found you
    Yes, that one in a million girls
    And I wish my lovin’ arms around ya
    Honey, I can stand up and face the world

    Let me tell ya your love (your love keeps liftin’ me)
    Keeps on liftin’ (your love keeps liftin’ me)
    Higher (liftin’ me, liftin’ me), higher, and higher (higher)
    I said your love (your love keeps liftin’ me)
    Keeps on (liftin’ me, liftin’ me)
    Liftin’ me (liftin’ me) higher and higher (higher)
    (Aww right, now sock it to me)
    scat singing to end

    Report Post » 44th Streaming Widget?  
  • casey1
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:24am

    Can’t wait to hear Gibs spin on this “unexpected” rise in unemployment.

    Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:52am

      Maybe the 9.8% can join Obama’s civilian army

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • BurntHills
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:59am

      don’t even joke about the civilian army, it is already forming, it’s called the SEIU and Acorn and the IRS. if it’s in a ghetto or a barrio, it’s already pledged to obama. just wait til the millions of illegals get their free citizenship and we are a failed nation under that dead weight.

      Report Post » BurntHills  
  • Conserving Ink
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:21am

    Lets be a little more accurate. Its 9.8% of those who want to work. We fool ourselves when we assume that every unemployed is unhappy with their lot.
    _______________________________________________________________
    http://conserving-ink.blogspot.com/2010/12/government-we-didnt-elect.html

    Report Post » Conserving Ink  
    • Nvrforget
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:25am

      Doesn’t the 9.8% only count people on unemployment benefits? People not receiving those benefits wouldn’t show up in the numbers, so the actual unemployment rate may very well be a lot higher than that.

      Report Post »  
  • rfycom
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:15am

    OK so I voted a GOP ticket. When do I see the change PEOPLE? Don’t give me no crap about not being enough time. Work. Get up every day you bunch of Washington losers and work for me. Don’t work for yourself. Don’t spend all week thinking about how you are going to be re-elected. Work for the country.

    Report Post »  
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:18am

      Maybe when they actually get into office you dip sh t

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • drbage
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:21am

      Time to get rid of all this lame duck baloney. We voted for change on November 2nd and we want it now!

      Report Post »  
    • HumanDoing
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:28am

      In my house hold we have 100% unemployment.That whole 9.8% … lol that’s just people collecting bennies. I wonder if we have enough people yet to form that prayer circle around the US border.
      Its getting so bad you can see the unemployed from space.. thanks God for freelance opportunities or Id be sunk.

      Report Post » HumanDoing  
    • aLinedog
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:34am

      Satire. That’s funny.
      If it wasn’t meant that way then I must presume you voted GOP in frustration and a lack of understanding? Only Libs and Proggies promise changes fast. Here, in the land of the Conservative, we understand the world works a little differently than they have promised you over there. It’s ok friends, keep your chin up and fight for smaller government. The benefits will be slower in coming but… well the best things in life are Free -just not quick, nor easy.
      -Line

      Report Post »  
    • mtnclimberjim
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 10:34am

      Harsh very harsh

      Report Post » mtnclimberjim  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:14am

    And the Demunists are going to increase taxes on small business.

    Viva!! Everybody dance!!!

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:34am

      Businesses are cleaning house, they can’t hire without knowing what it will cost them. We are already struggling in the business community and congress wants to make it even harder with this $250,000 crap. Job killing jerks are so busy ‘looking out for the poor’ they are killing any chance of anything but a jobless recovery.

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:42am

      Kate, they are killing any chance for any kind of recovery. It is the liberals and progressives plan to completely collapse the US economy so they can put their framework in place and take over and turn this country into another communist russia.

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:48am

      @Untamable Kate

      I know, so many businesses are closing down around where I live at. Being on a disabled persons income is not a great feeling; so I volunteer where possible, and live on as little as possible. So many needy families, once working for small mom and pop operations, and the owners themselves come for help.

      Yet at the same time I also see the same people return the favor when they become able to. So many times they may one week show up with a bag of donated veggies or goods; then the next week show up with a truckload of fruits picked from trees on their land, and the neighbors.

      This is the hope and promise of America’s future; the people helping each other out, not just the fed’s but Americans across the board making the difference. Now, if we just can get the 800 ton white fanged gorilla off our collective backs, then we can get the problems solved that much quicker.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • BoilitDown
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:57am

      When you add this to all the other bad news looming on the horizon for job creators, it presents a very bleak picture. It’s a delicate balance to keep from toppling over the edge.
      These politicians who are so fixated on getting their own way have lost sight of the need for jobs. They don’t really understand how jobs are created. This goes for their wizard economists as well. This, so soon after an election that should have centered their attention. They are completely incorrigible.
      What can we possibly do to jolt them into reality?

      Report Post »  
  • drbage
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:14am

    I used to think that if I ever came back and got to do my life over, I would be a weatherperson as it was the only job that I knew where you could be wrong MOST of the time and still keep your job. Not now, I’m coming back as a government expert because you can be wrong ALL the time and still keep your job, your healthcare, and your endless benefits.

    Report Post »  
    • heavyduty
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:42am

      I don’t know about that anymore. You need to talk to Dave Price for ABC.

      Report Post »  
  • MAULEMALL
    Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:14am

    Just another lie… More like 20%

    Thats just the ones on the rolls… Wait till the benifits extensions run out and unemployment “Drops”

    Obammy will take credit for a drop in unemployment..

    Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • Boss J
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:19am

      Just like there is still only 10-12 million illegals in this country. Isn’t that the same number they have been using for over 5 years now?

      Report Post » Boss J  
    • ->Click For Brain Enema<-
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:27am

      true on both points unemployment is more like 20% and that number will go done once we stop giving hand outs.

      Report Post » -&gt;How To Work From Home Site&lt;-  
    • Konservative PUNK
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:37am

      Meanwhile gold hits $1400/oz.

      Report Post » Konservative PUNK  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:39am

      Why don’t they just take one of those “shovel ready” jobs the stimulus created?

      Report Post »  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:40am

      Well, you know they don’t like to count the under employed and those that stopped looking because they like to keep the REAL NUMBERS hidden.

      Report Post »  
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:40am

      Funny you mention that… I bought gold in 2001…
      $350.00 an oz…
      sold some day before yesterday… 1.400.00

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • 2
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:42am

      It was this high 2 Months ago. Withheld info. for REID.

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:43am

      And do not forget, there are people of the administration seeking to unionize all those unemployed people who have had benefits run out. Wonder where the union dues money is coming from?

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • LAMET
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:44am

      9.8% is NOT ACCURATE at all – because it does not take into account the thousands of people who DID NOT RECEIVE extensions on their benefits and are still out of work or under- employed.

      Report Post »  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:49am

      THE TYRANT’S ENEMY, THE INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEUR:

      Tyrants require an enemy to gain and retain power. The “Wannabe Peers” have used this “chosen enemy” tactic as an integral part of their agenda to usurp our freedom since the late 1800’s. The “Wannabe Peers” (Those who lust for the unearned power and prestige that King George III conferred on the English Peers) chose the Entrepreneur to be their enemy. However, these “Wannabe Tyrants” called their enemy the “Rich” not Entrepreneur. The word “Rich” was used because of the implication that the “Rich” enjoy unearned wealth, wealth that was somehow stolen from the masses.
      Entrepreneurs, of course, utilize innovation to create the wealth and increase the individual productivity. Their success made the United States the greatest industrial power that the world has ever seen. If the term “rich man” were changed to producer, employer or Entrepreneur the propaganda would be totally ineffective.
      You would die of starvation and exposure if you had to exist on the wealth created by the “Wannabe Tyrants” but we all live in luxury (compared to the standard of living before the industrial revolution) in an economy created by innovative Entrepreneurs.
      For more on the tactics and strategy of the “Wannabe Tyrants” see chapter 5 of “21st Sense Common Sense.” http://commonsense21c.com/

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 9:58am

      Smoke and mirrors, just the way Washington likes it. If you live in a Congressional district represented by one of those morons that doesn’t want to extend the Bush tax cuts, or really should be called the Democrats tax hikes, then I suggest you burn up the phone lines calling them to vote to extend these for ALL. Quite with the class warfare crap and get America back to work.

      Report Post » Cemoto78  
    • youguysready_letsroll
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 10:59am

      I‘m unemployed and haven’t been receiving benefits for months now. Am I a part of the 9.8% or do they only count the people receiving unemployment benefits?

      Report Post » youguysready_letsroll  
    • HKS
      Posted on December 3, 2010 at 11:56am

      Isn’t that socialism working out so well for everyone. We need more people sucking on the system, I know we could import a few million, that would really help. Oh how great it will be when the time comes, millions lined up to the showers. Quantity lowers the cost ya know. At least that’s what father Obama says.

      Report Post » HKS  
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