Unemployment Rate Up in 48 States

The reports are in and it seems like May did not go very well for the job market: in every state but Vermont and Nebraska, the unemployment rate increased, with many states posting record high jobless numbers. Vermont reported no change in its numbers and Nebraska’s unemployment rate decreased by a meager 0.1 percent.
 
Of all the states, Michigan is by far the worst off, featuring a staggering 14.1 percent unemployment rate that has risen from 12.9 percent the previous month. Oregon trails Michigan at a 12.4 percent unemployment rate, with thirteen other states suffering from unemployment numbers above 10 percent.
 
Many of the states suffering the most blame the troubled manufacturing sector for the startling unemployment numbers. Michigan, for example, has traditionally relied heavily on the auto industry for jobs, but the dire straits of big employers like GM and Chrysler have led to an overwhelming number of job losses.

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