Unemployment by State
The recession has not been kind to very many people, but it has been especially harsh on a few states.
Oregon and Michigan have been hit especially hard, as evidenced by the latest figures detailing unemployment numbers since the American recession began in December 2007. The two states have 12.4 and 14.1 percent unemployment statewide, respectively. California, Rhode Island and South Dakota were three other states hit markedly hard. The “Golden State” is reporting 11.6 percent unemployment, while Rhode Island and South Dakota are both reporting 12.4 percent.
While the numbers themselves are gaudy, even more worrisome is the number of people they represent. California has a population of just under 37 million and Michigan is home to a little more than 10 million people. That’s well over five million people out of work in those two states alone.
You can see from the table how the rate of unemployment has skyrocketed in almost every state (literally doubling in more than half) since the start of the recession in December 2007. Here’s hoping that the ol’ stimulus gets more people jobs than just the Conservative TV magnates pontificating about it.
June 23, 2009
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