Some 5 million people, about one-third of those on the unemployment list, have been without a job for six months or more, a record since data started being recorded in 1948, according to the research and advocacy group National Employment Law Project.
"It smashes any other figure we have ever seen. It is an unthinkable number," said Andrew Stettner, NELP's deputy director. He said there are currently about six jobless people for every job opening, so it's unlikely people are purposefully living off unemployment insurance while waiting for something better to come along.
New York Unemployment Trends - August 2009
New York Unemployment Situation in Heat Map form:
here is a map of New York Unemployment in August 2009 (BLS data)
http://www.localetrends.com/st/ny_new_york_unemployment.php?MAP_TYPE=curr_ue
versus New York Unemployment Levels 1 year ago
http://www.localetrends.com/st/ny_new_york_unemployment.php?MAP_TYPE=m12_ue
Posted by: pete | October 01, 2009 at 01:28 PM