Unemployment Rate: A Visual Guide to the Financial Crisis
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Update: See November 2009 Unemployment Rate for an updated look at the unemployment rate.
The overall unemployment rate currently stands at 7.2 percent, a 15-year high according to Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each day since the current recession began, in December 2007, the news has been full of reports of job layoffs. Just today the government released a report indicating that the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits is at its highest level in a quarter of a century, as more workers seek government assistance. Could the news get any worse? It’s all in how you calculate the numbers.
Here is a visual guide to the truth behind the numbers
For more personal finance visualizations see: WallStats.com
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« Previous 1 2Had a lot of fun
i loved the article added to my favourites
It would be great if this could be brought up to date. U-6 now stands at 17%
Yes, pls update.
It’s amazing the stock market DOESN’T care about the unemployed. It’s because it’s a lagging indicator.
I would love to see an update to this Wallstats visual guide or if the author could embed data link for real time update.
Beau Byron
I agree. For October 2009, the U6 is 17.5%
its good information, i will also like to hear more on a global level thanks
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I have just added a Reference List to my economics blog with economic data series, history, bibliographies etc. for students & researchers. Unemployment is going to go far higher: Of Mortgage Brokers, ARMs, Attrition and Marathons
what is the unemployment rate in the 2009 4th quter from september and becember
Forgot were you self employed > goes to you do not count section. Realistically unemployed. Wonder how that stacks up when the employer is adding to the unemployed. I was hoping for some better change.
A minor but important detail about the unemployment rate of the Great Depression is that it did not reach it’s peak until 4 years after the collapse because governmental policies, at first, did not interfere with the self-adjustment of the economy. New Deal policies took hold a few years later, and that’s when unemployment got ridiculous.
Of course, the conclusions of the chart are still valid, since the government is responding now much like it did during the New Deal. Same response, same results. Have a happy 5-10 years of misery.
While we support trade on fair and equitable basis and I would add with free nations Unfortunately what we continue to see is the way a Nation treats its own People is how it will treat other Nations and when you look at some of the practices engaged in the domestic policies of nations that are our trading partners that the average American would find repugnant. The average American would find as antithetical to the concept of Human liberty coming from a creator rather than a central Government. I think you can understand why the United States has employers like Wes Smith and others in this Country that try and provide a humane and decent job for their workers so they can pursue their happiness. Why we are at a distinct disadvantage is because we are a good and decent Country. When competing or trading with other nations that have no regard for the rights of their People except as pawns in the political game or to be used in a strategy to De industrialize the United States. This is a problem, and until we can re industrialize this Country we will continue to have job loss and separation of the classes.