Jobless Rate Hits Record Highs Across the Nation

By Moe Bedard

Unemployment and joblessness are probably the biggest problems that Americans are suffering from. Unemployment is driving foreclosures, the market in general is causing less people to spend money on nonessential items and we live in a consumer based economy. And while unemployment is up and foreclosures are up we Americans continue to get mixed signals that the economy will improve in 2009, maintain its same levels in 2009 or continue to decline.

If unemployment, underemployment and layoffs are driving the economy then I’d have to say things won’t improve any time soon. According to a recent Wall Street Journalarticle: 

California’s unemployment rate jumped to 11.2% in March, while North Carolina rose to 10.8%, the highest for both since the U.S. government began a comprehensive tally of state joblessness in 1976.

The state-by-state employment figures showed only a few states avoiding the deterioration seen nationwide. Unemployment rose in 46 states during the month, and 12 states plus the District of Columbia posted unemployment rates in March that were significantly higher than the 8.5% nationwide figure the government released earlier this month.

How can anyone think that the economy will improve based on these figures? Regardless of what so-called “experts” tell us I think the best thing we can do for ourselves, especially if layoffs are immanent in your company, is to get educated on the careers that have positive employment projections like healthcare (especially nursing), computer science careers, green jobs, financial planning and counseling related services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides an enormous amount of information on career tracks that are growing and need qualified workers in their field. As always the best medicine is preventative medicine so if you find yourself worried about your employment, prevent yourself from falling victim to joblessness by researching now what kind of careers may be available to you in alternate fields.