Breaking News | April Numbers Released - New York State Has Fallen To 8.4% Unemployment Rate

The United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics released the latest update of unemployment rates by state based on April data on May 21, 2010.  The result of that data is posted. 

(Click on the chart to enlarge or visit http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm). 

There were only slight changes to the March data that was released in April.  The highest states for unemployment percentages remain:  Michigan, Nevada, California, Rhode Island, Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Ohio, North Carolina, Oregon, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, Arizona, Missouri, West Virginia, Washington State, Massachusetts, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. 

The states that were mentioned all have unemployment rates at or above 8.5% - the current percentage to receive federal funding for all existing unemployment tiers.

This is worth noting:  According to the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the State of New York has fallen to 8.4%. 

Alaska is also at 8.4% and Texas has went up slightly to 8.3%.  As this blogger has previously noted, a lower percentage does not equal relief.  Many unemployed in Texas did not benefit from the last tier of unemployment extensions as they fell below the 8.5% rate to receive federal assistance.

The State of New York has fallen to 8.4%.  1/10th of a percent below the mark to continue to receive federal funding.  Please, when contacting Congress, ask them to consider the population of a state and not simply a percentage.  Please continue to advocate for a Tier 5 unemployment extension and ask Congress to consider the number of persons - not percentages when making decisions on which states receive assistance.

Something To Think About Over The Weekend

These are some talking points to think about over the weekend as everyone continues to  survive this disaster.  If you have been paying attention to the job market, you see the upward trend of job creation.  It is in fact going in the right direction for now.  That's great news but means squat for the millions of unemployed who have exhausted their benefits and need additional assistance now.  Is that agreeable?  I think most unemployed can agree on that one. 

There is no greater case for the need for a Tier 5 than if you look at this graph.  To a person happily employed right now - it means to them perhaps it is okay to go ahead and shut off the funding for the longest-term unemployed.  To a person who is unemployed, it underscores the fact that if you were laid off in 2008 - you are just now having the opportunity to truly compete for jobs.  Both sides agree that this graph is good news but the graph speaks for itself about the jobs that just did not exist during 2008 and 2009.

Sure, the longest-term unemployed were applying their hearts out.  But during 2008 and 2009 the country was losing jobs.  How can anyone say that all of the longest-term unemployed are not doing their best is absurd.  There can be no change in the number of those who are unemployed until jobs are created.  When there are this many millions out of work - 162,000 jobs in one month is a great start but there are not enough jobs for everyone. 

Why shut off the lifeline that so many thousands need until the jobs that the country lost get created again?  The numbers do not add up.  To be totally fair about the situation:  If you were laid off in the year 2008, just recently have you had a true opportunity to apply for a job and get serious consideration.  There was massive job loss in 2008 and 2009.  Your only opportunity was to take the position of someone else who quit their job. 

If you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits - you know that you cannot even receive the benefit unless your state verifies that you were laid off.  The unemployed did not quit their jobs - they were laid off.  Unemployed through no fault of their own.  If there is anyone out there who is a 99er wishing that you had done more in 2008 and 2009 - look at the number of job losses.  There's nothing more you could have done.

It's just simple math.  It speaks to what Senator Menendez was mentioning in that Senate Finance Committee hearing.  The jobs did not exist during '08 and '09.  The graph tells us that.  Common sense tells us that.