Vol. 77/No. 4 February 4, 2013
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Long-term joblessness remains at record high |
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Long-term unemployment affecting millions of workers is at the highest level since the government began keeping these figures in 1948. According to Labor Department data, the average duration of unemployment is about 40 weeks. This is double the previous highest levels of about 20 weeks reached for brief periods in the wake of the past three recessions. The current level has risen to its record high more than three-and-a-half years after the 2008-2009 recession was declared to be over.
According to Labor Department figures, there are 23 million people in the U.S. who are either officially unemployed, not working but too “discouraged” to be counted as unemployed or looking to work full time, but finding only part-time jobs.
—BRIAN WILLIAMS Related articles: NYC school bus workers stand up to union busting ‘Our wages, benefits, jobs are at stake’ On the Picket Line Canada gov’t targets unions with financial disclosure law Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home |