Individual state unemployment rates are listed at end of this post. See stimulus funds your state received.
The December 2010 national unemployment is 9.4%.
August 2010 figures show that 42.4 million people (I hesitate to say “Americans”) are now receiving food stamps. Up 1.3% from the previous month. Up 17% from a year ago and up 45% from 2 years ago. As a comparison, August 2009 saw a record 36.2 million recipients.
Not unlike other “change” in this country, the Federal Food Stamp Program has been renamed/repackaged and is now referred to as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in an effort to “remove the stigma.” “Certain” non citizens are eligible for food stamps. Of the 112 million households nearly 20 million households receive food stamps compared to 11.7 million in 2007. Of interest see where Massachusetts food stamp money is going.
One in six people are enrolled in some form of federal aid in this country. 44% of US households have at least one person receiving some sort of federal cash benefit (or entitlement) – the highest percentage in US history.
45% of US households pay no federal income tax (39% — 5 years ago).
In the week ending Jan. 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 454,000, an increase of 51,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 403,000. The 4-week moving average was 428,750, an increase of 15,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 413,000.
Nearly 10 million people receive unemployment insurance — up by four times since 2007.
States reported 3,783,493 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending Jan. 8, an increase of 63,886 from the prior week. There were 5,348,277 claimants in the comparable week in 2010. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.
By years’ end, two million unemployment recipients are scheduled to lose their benefits. Congress has extended the basic 26-week program to 99 weeks eight times.
Since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, our auto industry has added 55,000 jobs – the strongest period of job growth in more than 10 years. GM sales in China are at an all time high.
See the trend chart from civilian to government jobs. (Unfortunately the feds haven’t published FY 2009 or 2010 yet)
Historic Unemployment by Month/Year
Below is the percent of unemployment by month. Notice the graph above indicates between 2008 and 2009 unemployment figures had a huge upward trend. In fact, the graph (distributed by the feds) is misleading to view. As you can see in the actual figures below, 2008 saw numbers ranging from 4.8% to 7.4% for an annual national average of 5.8%. 2009 saw figures range from 4.9% to 10% unemployment for a final annual national average of 9.3.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Average annual unemployment over last 20 years
Below are current unemployment rates for states and historical highs/lows (seasonally adjusted). Neither December figures nor 2010 annual unemployment numbers have been published yet.
| Current Unemployment Rate for States and Historical Highs/Lows Seasonally Adjusted |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 2010p | Historical High | Historical Low | |||
| State | Rate | Date | Rate | Date | Rate |
| Alabama | 9.0 | Dec. 1982 | 14.3 | Apr. 2007 | 3.3 |
| Alaska | 8.0 | June 1986 | 11.5 | Apr. 2007 | 5.9 |
| Arizona | 9.4 | Jan. 1983 | 11.6 | July 2007 | 3.7 |
| Arkansas | 7.9 | July 1983 | 10.1 | Nov. 2000 | 4.0 |
| California | 12.4 | Mar. 2010 | 12.6 | Jan. 2001 | 4.7 |
| Colorado | 8.6 | Jan. 1983 | 8.8 | Jan. 2001 | 2.6 |
| Connecticut | 9.0 | Jan. 1976 | 9.4 | Oct. 2000 | 2.1 |
| Delaware | 8.4 | Dec. 1976 | 9.3 | Feb. 1989 | 2.8 |
| District of Columbia | 9.8 | Jan. 2010 | 12.0 | May 1989 | 4.8 |
| Florida | 12.0 | Mar. 2010 | 12.3 | May 2006 | 3.3 |
| Georgia | 10.1 | Mar. 2010 | 10.5 | Dec. 2000 | 3.3 |
| Hawaii | 6.4 | Jan. 1976 | 9.9 | Jan. 2007 | 2.3 |
| Idaho | 9.4 | Feb. 1983 | 9.6 | Mar. 2007 | 2.7 |
| Illinois | 9.6 | Feb. 1983 | 12.9 | Feb. 1999 | 4.2 |
| Indiana | 9.8 | Jan. 1983 | 12.7 | Apr. 1999 | 2.6 |
| Iowa | 6.6 | Mar. 1983 | 8.6 | Oct. 1999 | 2.5 |
| Kansas | 6.8 | Aug. 2009 | 7.2 | Apr. 1979 | 3.0 |
| Kentucky | 10.2 | Jan. 1983 | 12.0 | June 2000 | 4.1 |
| Louisiana | 8.2 | Nov. 1986 | 12.8 | July 2006 | 3.6 |
| Maine | 7.3 | Jan. 1977 | 9.0 | Jan. 2001 | 3.1 |
| Maryland | 7.4 | Nov. 1982 | 8.4 | Feb. 2000 | 3.4 |
| Massachusetts | 8.2 | Jan. 1976 | 11.1 | Oct. 2000 | 2.6 |
| Michigan | 12.4 | Dec. 1982 | 16.8 | Mar. 2000 | 3.3 |
| Minnesota | 7.1 | Dec. 1982 | 9.1 | Mar. 1999 | 2.5 |
| Mississippi | 9.9 | Apr. 1983 | 13.5 | Apr. 2001 | 4.9 |
| Missouri | 9.4 | Feb. 1983 | 10.6 | Jan. 2000 | 2.8 |
| Montana | 7.2 | Mar. 1983 | 8.8 | Mar. 2007 | 3.2 |
| Nebraska | 4.6 | Feb. 1983 | 6.7 | Feb. 1998 | 2.2 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | Sept. 2010 | 14.4 | Apr. 2000 | 3.8 |
| New Hampshire | 5.4 | Sept. 1992 | 7.6 | May 1987 | 2.1 |
| New Jersey | 9.2 | Dec. 1976 | 10.7 | July 2000 | 3.6 |
| New Mexico | 8.5 | Mar. 1983 | 10.0 | Aug. 2007 | 3.4 |
| New York | 8.3 | Nov. 1976 | 10.3 | Apr. 1988 | 4.0 |
| North Carolina | 9.7 | Feb. 2010 | 11.2 | Mar. 1999 | 3.1 |
| North Dakota | 3.8 | Feb. 1983 | 6.8 | July 2001 | 2.6 |
| Ohio | 9.8 | Jan. 1983 | 13.9 | Jan. 2001 | 3.8 |
| Oklahoma | 6.9 | June 1983 | 9.2 | Dec. 2000 | 2.8 |
| Oregon | 10.6 | Jan. 1983 | 12.1 | Feb. 1995 | 4.7 |
| Pennsylvania | 8.6 | Mar. 1983 | 12.9 | Mar. 2000 | 4.0 |
| Rhode Island | 11.6 | Feb. 2010 | 12.7 | July 1988 | 2.9 |
| South Carolina | 10.6 | Jan. 2010 | 12.5 | Mar. 1998 | 3.2 |
| South Dakota | 4.5 | Feb. 1983 | 6.0 | Mar. 2000 | 2.5 |
| Tennessee | 9.4 | Jan. 1983 | 12.8 | May 2000 | 3.9 |
| Texas | 8.2 | Nov. 1986 | 9.3 | Jan. 2001 | 4.2 |
| Utah | 7.5 | Mar. 1983 | 10.0 | Apr. 2007 | 2.5 |
| Vermont | 5.7 | Jan. 1976 | 8.8 | Apr. 2000 | 2.4 |
| Virginia | 6.8 | Jan. 1983 | 7.8 | Dec. 2000 | 2.2 |
| Washington | 9.2 | Nov. 1982 | 12.2 | May 2007 | 4.4 |
| West Virginia | 9.3 | Mar. 1983 | 18.1 | Apr. 2008 | 3.9 |
| Wisconsin | 7.6 | Jan. 1983 | 11.5 | Feb. 2000 | 3.0 |
| Wyoming | 6.6 | Jan. 1987 | 9.1 | Apr. 1979 | 2.3 |
| Note: Data series begin in January 1976. | |||||
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Rates shown are a percentage of the labor force. Data refer to place of residence. Estimates for at least the latest five years are subject to revision early in the following calendar year. Historical highs and lows show the most recent month that a rate was recorded in the event of multiple occurrences.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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