Unemployment Increases to 9%
- Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:45am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Employers added more than 200,000 jobs in April for the third straight month, the biggest hiring spree in five years. But the unemployment rate rose to 9 percent in part because some people resumed looking for work.
The Labor Department says the economy added 244,000 jobs last month. Private employers shrugged off high gas prices and created 268,000 jobs – the most since February 2006.
The gains were widespread. Retailers, factories, financial companies, education and health care and even construction companies all added jobs. Federal, state and local governments cut jobs.
Still, unemployment increased slightly from the 8.8 percent in March. It was the first increase since November, and comes as weekly unemployment numbers also rose.



















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Comments (145)
MONKEYBRAINS
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:52amI wonder if Obama got the news while fetching his golf ball out of the pond.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 3:34pmNotice him in the situation room, while the action was taking place. He had an pencil, with an erasor on the end, trying to adjust his golf score!
Report Post »trooper
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:50amObama is happy and said “I love it when a plan comes together”.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:37amSen Bob Casey (D) is live on C-SPAN say we are moving in the right direction!
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 3:12pmWell sure because the intended direction of the country if your a liberal is DOWN!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:37amObama doesn’t care, he’s too busy spiking the football at ground zero! This whole Bin Laden killing being treated like we just won WWII is growing old. I‘m glad he’s dead and we did it but, we have bigger problems to deal with…like GROWING unemployment!
Report Post »Hephzibah
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:52amAnd this 9% doesn‘t show how many are working at jobs that aren’t their field, for half the pay they had before, with far less benefits and/or horrible, costly commutes. Some honorable people actually take inappropriate-for-them jobs just to be working.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:34amThese unemployment numbers dont even show the millions of people who are underemployed or have quit looking for jobs, and are now depending on the govt. Maybe it is one of many failures or distractions like health care reform, wikileaks, dream act, tsa, border, crap & trade, stimulus, cash 4 clunkers, debt, usama, unions, earmarks, class warfare SOmeboDy please jump in.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:32amThe real number is higher.
Report Post »BiteMePETA
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:30amIt will be revised down in a month or two…
Report Post »poster
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:25amWhat?? That can’t be right. Is Biden aware of this?
I think somebody at the White House got the political calendar wrong. The job numbers were supposed to be released about an hour before the bin Ladin raid. Now everyone will see them and report them. Damn.
Report Post »Stu Pedaso
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:22amLearn to fix stuff people, no matter where it’s made someone has to fix it once its here. Better yet lets start actually making stuff here again. Dodge and Chrysler keep trying to pitch their American “imported from Detroit”. Come on the body is formed in Canada and the motor if assembled in Mexico. Is this what we have become people?
Report Post »OHOH54
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:21amGlad to see that The Blaze is back talking about the economic problems of this country. It was great that Bin Laden was taken care of but we must deal with this economy before we lose this country to the socialist that are trying to rob it from us.
Report Post »psst
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 10:05amSotero said. “Damn, they are back on this economy bs., gotta send some Navy divers to recover OBL’s body (?)
Report Post »I can say, he can’t be found. Must be a resurrection, Mermaids rolled away the stone, and an al Jeezera .reporterette just announced she interviewed him this morning.
Yes! That it, that will keep the front page going for awhile longer.Then I can find him and kill him “dead”all over again.
If I can keep them (no ,not my people) off of this economy going down the tubes BS, I can win again”
Hollywood
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 3:31pmWhat economy?
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:19amSo, Barbara Walters, in light of these (fabricated) numbers, do you still stand by your assertion that it would be foolish for anyone to run against the Chosen One in 2012?
Joy Behind, are you still giddy with excitement despite your idol completely screwing up any hope of a meaningful economic recovery in the near (or distant) future?
Matthews, do you still get that tingle up your leg? BTW, I still say that totally defines TMI. We didn’t need to know about your strange proclivities…..
Report Post »beforenafter
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:15am62,000 of those jobs were low wage McDonalds Jobs. Not the higher wage manufacturing jobs we have shipped overseas due to our onerous tax system.
Report Post »leftcoastslut
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:35amyour right, mickey D just did a hiring day a week ago.. wonder if the corporation received some stimulus money… with a mikey D paycheck, you maybe able to fill your gas tank once and have a couple bucks left in your pocket.. now that is the american dream… come on barry show us your “moonwalk”…
Report Post »memere2six
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 4:08pmMcDonalds say, I hear, that the ONLY reason they can hire 62000 people is BECAUSE the are getting that little “exemption” from OBAMACARE.
Report Post »DONTSINGITBRINGIT
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:15amIs this a good or bad thing? Barry?
Report Post »DONTSINGITBRINGIT
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:11amI’ve been missing 9%.
Report Post »psst
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:04amIncreased to 9 pucent?
Report Post »Well!! it’s never been below 12 % for the last few years..
All that crap we/ve been hearing the last few mths. about un-employment declining is all crapola.
They have been massaging the numbers.
The real number is aroung 16-18% if you count all the people who have given up looking for a job.
When benefits runs out for everyone. Just think, it will be a blessing. We’ll have full employment as they will no longer be counted as unemployed.
bandi9
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:03ameven the AP cant spin this in regime’s favor, as hard as they might try.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:03amDon’t worry about a job people. BIG BROTHER is here!
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:12amThe scariest phrase ever uttered.
“I from the Government and I’m here to help you.”
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:02amWatch those poll nubers tumble.
Report Post »NOKOOLAIDDRINKER
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:41amI really don’t think he cares, because I have a really bad feeling, he knows something’s going to happen that will cause a national emergency with emergency law. Thereby precluding 2012 elections and extending his “omnipotent reign”!!
Report Post »When I look at the “big picture”and try not to get stuck on the all the little points and see the EVIL surrounding POTUS I get that feeling on the back of my neck. I pray everyday that it doesn’t happen!
GayDem4Beck
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:57amWe’re easing into the second phase of that much feared Double Dip Recession ! WWOBN ? (Who Will Obama Blame Next)
Report Post »psst
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:55ambOOsh—- again —— and again—- and again.
Report Post »keaton
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:56amSpike the ball Barry, spike the ball!
Report Post »David, the Constitutional Libertarian
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:55amObamanomics 101
Shut down all energy exploration in the US
Cause increase costs in energy costs to implement green economy.
Purchase oil from other countries.
Purchase rare earths from China.
Ship jobs to China.
Do not allow companies to build in states where they want to.
Food Stamps.
Unemployment.
Deflate the currency to cover interest on debt.
Cause inflation to make food and energy more expensive.
Create more and more regulations on businesses.
Raise taxes on businesses.
Take Stimulus money and give it to Crony Corps like GE and ship jobs overseas.
Take Stimulus money and create government jobs.
Take Stimulus money and research prostitution in China.
Take Stimulus money and fund radical leftist organizations.
Take Stimulus and other government funds and fund leftist organizations.
Fund radical leftist colleges.
Do I need to say more?
Report Post »txn4justice
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:06amAwesome. Should lead to some sort of success, right? Right? Anybody? MSNBC? Bueller? odonnell? maddow? matthews?
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:06amDo I need to say more?
You pretty much covered most of the bases but…………
You forgot Obama killed Osama so everything is great if your a brain dead liberal.
Report Post »David, the Constitutional Libertarian
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:29amThere are TWO things that Obama has done right.
He did not stop the military attack on Osama Bin Dyin
He did not stop the execution of pirates over near Somalia.
That is about all I can think of. Looks like he voted PRESENT again on the only two things that were positive. Hmmm.
But liberals are not brain dead, they have a mental disorder plus cognitive dissonance.
Everything they called Bush out for are now POSITIVES for Obama.
couple examples-
Waterboarding bad under Bush, okay if it leads to OBL under Obama
Stated Cheney’s hit squad bad, two times used the military to assassinate people good under Obama.
Iraq war where Hussein killed over 400,000 of his own people bad under Bush with congressional approval, Libya war with UN approval good under Obama.
Bailouts under Bush bad, Stimulus and bailouts good under Obama.
These are just a few.
Hey Blaze, you should write an article on Cognitive Dissonance and the comparison between Bush and Obama.
Maybe name it, Obama the WAR CRIMINAL! LOL
By the way, have you found that editor yet?
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 3:25pmUHHH- Obama in 2012?
Report Post »Florida_Freedom_Fighter
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:53amUnder Obama’s Policies the new norm is 9%, any growth will be sheer determination among the citizens despite Obama..
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:50amUh oh, Barry–guess it’s time to come back to reality.
Report Post »PavZilla
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:07amAfter the next bogey-down session, maybe? Nah … it’s always going to be “fore” play first.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:49amThey have no idea what the unemployment rate truely is they gauge their numbers off whose recieveing benefits and never bother to calculate how many have used up their benefits and still aren’t working.
Report Post »David, the Constitutional Libertarian
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:00amshadowstats(dot)com
Current SGS Unemployment is 22%
U3 9% U6 16% Government figures
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:00amThis Administration knows exactly what they are doing. Manipulating the numbers is their specialty.
Report Post »Gail_B_Bell
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:21amThey are Gangstas, just look at the 45% persons using government hand outs and NOT paying Taxes!
Report Post »This includes the disabled (yeah right) human sponges down at the Mall every day. And double dipping military “retired” 40 year olds! GET A Contractor JOB!
NOKOOLAIDDRINKER
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:25amWhat’s in a number? Alot!
When everyother entity in this country has strict accounting and reporting standards and restrictions (including state and municipal governments), the federal government has no such standards. They literally make the numbers fit the “spin” or agenda. Otherwise known as CREATIVE ACCOUNTING!!!
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS NEEDED: TERM LIMITS!!! BALANCED BUDGET!!! ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!!!
Report Post »GdaddyTejas
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:47amHey,,,,, how’s that hope and change working for you?
Report Post »LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:50amwell i do have a buck fifty nine left.. about enough for a cup of coffee
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 8:56amI thought we didn’t need jobs anymore, you know with Bin Laden being dead and all. I’m sure after the 2012 elections, Obama will get right back to that “laser-like” focus on jobs. This is all such a joke.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXvykO3qVF4
82dAirborne
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:01am@LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
Spend it quick! Your $1.59 is now worth about $1.29.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:02amIf they factored in all the real unemployment/underemployment such as those working part time, benefits ran out, have given up, and so forth the number would be around 23%. Funny how when Bush was President they were more than happy to take all the factors into account.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:02amGallup should have the real number later today.
Report Post »dirtypolitics
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:11amForget about jobs, the economy, foreign policy, national security and transparency…all that matters is that Bin Laden is dead.
Re-elect Obama come 2012……pathetic.
Report Post »Gail_B_Bell
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:17am“268,000 private sector jobs“ ”Highest gain since 2006″
This is just a Chi-Town Gangsta Numba! Barry Obummer is the Hoax Jobs Creator in Chief!
The real un-governmental jobless rate is up to 45% We need Contractor jobs!
Non- Unionist Contractors work harder, last longer and do not get all retire-mental on ya!
Report Post »Professional Infidel
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:17amI hope it (obozo) gets the memo, things haven’t been worse. I haven’t had a customer since 1/09 the day he took office, my business ceased. ??? “Can’t figuer it out, The only BLACK guy thtst out there for prez that shouldn’t be.
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:20amThe rate would be much higher if they included all those who have given up looking for work.
Report Post »Sandy
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:23amToday’s BLS of 244K is great… until you exclude the 62K from McDonalds hirings, and 175K from the Birth Death Adjustment, and end up with…. +7K jobs.
Report Post »Outlaw_Josey_Wales
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:35amNo hope, change for the worst.
Report Post »Professional Infidel
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:35amCount me in!! Been there for 2.5 years!!
Report Post »Knitty99
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:42amIm unemployed and have a big problem with the blaze. I have, sorry had 154 $ to my name in my bank account and have been ripped off by an advertiser on the blaze for 99$. I know have 55$ to my name and my fiancé is mad at me. It started with an add on the blaze showing people winning an ipad 2 for 20$. I figured Glenn said that all his advertisers are legit and he pushes entrepreneurship so I saw an opportunity to make some money and signed up for an auction site called SAVEBIG.COM thinking even if I spend my entire 154$ I could sell an iPad 2 for a profit. I signed up for the auction and assumed my credit card info would be used for my purchase. Well I was immediately charged 99$ and it was deducted from my checking account and all attempts to get my money back were in vein. I’m very disappointed with the blaze for letting this company advertise with them. Please don‘t try this scam people even if you don’t mind the 99$ the odds of winning the item you bid on are very very very very slim !! You get a limited number of bids and each bid is only worth 1 cent and the bids cost 60 cents each it’s crazy.
psst
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:52am82dAirborne
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:01am
@LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
Spend it quick! Your $1.59 is now worth about $1.29
Report Post »—–
Ya sure about that? That’s too much.
Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:53am@Looking
Report Post »Hey, enough for a quart- – - of regular unleaded 84 Oct (r=m2meth)
cessna152
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 9:57amYes “Joke and blame”…. what a waste! The REAL unemployment is about 17% and that is no joking matter. Progressive/Marxist policies never work.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 10:05amClassic! And, left wingnuts will argue until the wee hours of the nite about how high unemployment “is just a fact of life” and when it’s high, the only way it goes down is over time. How utterly sad and pathetic is that?
Liberals love to fly at 40,000 feet – they’re very much not interested in details. They read books and feel that makes them intelligent. They get college degrees and advanced degrees and believe that makes them experts on any topic. The amount of destruction left in the wake of all their poor decision made as a result of their unwillingness to know their own limitations is shocking.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 10:08amLies, Lies and More Lies!
Report Post »lobster
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 10:46amThis number is conjured up by the labor dept. estimating how many new jobs would have been formed based on the number of new small businesses. A huge number of these are people that cannot get a job and have decided to try their own hand at it. My son is doing exactly that, but he won’t be employing any people in the near future.
Report Post »Gas137
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 10:57amIs it time to create more make-work government jobs to reduce the unemployment percentage? The government could add another tax on the rich to cover the new program.
Report Post »Mannax
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 10:59amDang, its now worth $1.18.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 11:07amJust saw on Drudge that 62,000 of the 244,000 new jobs in April were created by Mc Donald’s. Guess their Obamacare exemption is inspiring.
Report Post »raiderglenn
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 11:12am@knitty99
the old saying ‘a fool and his money will soon be parted’ is very apt for you… You go and use a website that you think will give you a super bargin and don’t bother to check it out before paying your money? Those pay per bid sites are common these days and 30 seconds of reading would have been all you needed to see how it works… But no fault lies with you, its Becks fault, its the Blaze’s fault, its the web sites fault…. Its YOUR FAULT you FOOL!
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 11:21amNever mind that,the most important issue right now is the use of geronimo in th execution of Usama. That’s why the Democraticly controled Senate wasted no time in starting a session to adress that very important issue. And put that pesky economy on the back burner
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 11:28amAnd the REAL unemployment (along with INFLATION) number is MUCH HIGHER! How about they stop trying to play around and report the REAL NUMBERS!
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 11:46amKnitty99,
Well, it did sound too good to be true, but I hope you emailed Glenn to let him know. I agree Glenn should not advertise scam artists on his site.
Negative things have happened on the Blaze post Betsy. I keep saying that she was hired to improve this site, but the only changes I see are censorship of ideas and character limit. I have also seen an increase in ads that look fishy (maybe they aren’t), but nothing positive has come out of hiring a liberal — nothing.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 11:51amGuess what, patriots. The left is now blaming the hunt for bin Laden — which took almost a decade — for the deficit and rising oil prices. Technically, it is Bush’s fault, plus ~2 1/2 years Obum inherited.
Why am I not surprised. Our FBI Most Wanted List was wrong. OSAMA with an “S” should not have been at the top of the list.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:00pmUnemployment DIDN’T RISE.. it’s even HIGHER than they are saying it is.. People are again looking for work having heard that the economy is IMPROVING and the weather has gotten better.. MORE people would look for work but TRANSPORTATION prices are HIGH, they can’t afford to.. AND UNTIL we start manufacturing WHAT WE NEED here in the USA again we WON’T be seeing it go down.. the only jobs that were being added are RETAIL or FAST FOOD.. but people DON’T have the money to go out and eat and BUY like what is needed to grow the economy on the wages that are created by these jobs.. GOVERNMENT is SUCKING the people dry with their raising taxes.. and the ONLY ones making out are GOVERNMENT UNIONS.. the reason for all the raising of the taxes..
Report Post »Steel Awesome
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:52pmIf you sell guns and ammo, you’re doing great in this economy.
Report Post »KTSontag
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 12:59pmUnemployment is much higher than 9%, that’s just what the government tells you. The truth is that many, many, many more people are unemployed. Look up the numbers for yourself. The number of people in this country who are of working age compared to the number of jobs makes the unemployment closer to 36%. Now of course you need to factor in retirees, disabled, etc. but that still wouldn’t bring it anywhere near 9%.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 1:03pmBo and his Unions are doing well…
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 2:39pmThe lies and evil of liberalism and progressiveism are once again shown. Until we get rid of liberals and progressives in our government and repeal ALL LIBERAL AND PROGRESSIVE POLICIES, and get this evil out of our schools this will continue.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 3:18pmHappy days are here again!
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 3:22pmLookingbothways. SEE, Obama did keep his promise. You now have Change left,and are HOPING you can buy a coffee with it. You really have to admire a President who has kept his wordNO?
Report Post »Restored One
Posted on May 6, 2011 at 4:23pmOk, let me see if I understand this.
Report Post »Unemployment numbers are based on who is collecting unemployment benefits, right? So 200k+ new jobs created, right? But an increase in unemployment numbers went up, right? Doesn’t that mean that there are more people collecting UE benefits. So their reasoning for the increase in the unemployed is because more people are now returning to look for work? Yeah, that is because more people lost their jobs and are looking for work. How stupid do they think we are!
ramburner
Posted on May 7, 2011 at 8:36amWe are still hoping for the best. Hope America is understanding the seriousness of this financial crisis or we will go under as a country.
@theBlaze; Get rid of the pop out banner at bottom; we know how to go to the next article! If you agree, then please make the same comments until this banner is eliminated. Please contact contact@theblaze.com and request removal of Banner.
Report Post »redneck
Posted on May 7, 2011 at 11:40amHere’s a quote from Mort Zuckerman editor of US News & World Report “The headline unemployment rate that you are referring to measures people who have applied for a job in the last four weeks. That‘s a misleading time span when you’ve had six million people who have been out of work for six months or longer. If you measure it with U6 rather than U3 measured by people who have applied for a job within the last six months who don‘t have work then you’re looking at an employment rate with 15.7% and if you add to that the 2.3 million discouraged workers who have just given up then you’re looking at a real unemployment rate of close to double the 9%, close to 18%. So we have not really made much headway in terms of reducing unemployment.”
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