Jobless Rate Continues to Increase
Jobless claims in the United States increased a bit more in September, reaching 9.8 percent. The Labor Department reported a loss of 263,000 jobs during the month, 80,000 more than expected.
Factoring in the Americans that have settled for part-time work or given up their job search altogether, the unemployment rate is 17 percent. That's the highest level in 15 years.
The Labor Department estimated that there are currently 15.1 million Americans out of work, and 7.1 million have lost their jobs since December 2007. Over that same 22 month span, the federal government has imported close to 3 million foreign workers. Pres. Obama acknowledged the importation of foreign workers during an interview with CNN last week.
I think we'll be adding jobs, but you need 150,000 additional jobs each month just to keep pace with a growing population. So if we're only adding 50,000 jobs, that's a great reversal from losing 700,000 jobs [a month] early this year -- but, you know, it means that we've still got a ways to go.
-- Pres. Obama
In the month of August, 42 states lost more jobs than they created. If you live in one of these states, and haven't done so already, there are faxes on your Action Buffet,, urging your three Members of Congress to suspend non-essential immigration.