As of February 2010, 14.8 million Americans were unemployed (or 9.7%), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from 12.7 million the year prior (or 8.2%). Unemployment among men aged 20 and older grew to 10.0%, while unemployment among women rose to 8.0%. A quarter (25.0%) of working aged teens (aged 16-19) were unemployed, up from 21.8% the year prior.
The unemployed included:
• Those who lost their jobs (9.6 million, up from 7.9 million);
• Those who chose to leave their jobs (866,000, up from 820,000);
• Those who recently re-entered the workforce (3.5 million, up from 2.9 million); and
• Those who entered the workforce for the first time (1.2 million, up from 1.0 million).
More than four in 10 unemployed workers (40.9%) had been out of work for 27 weeks or more, 18.1% for 15-26 weeks, 22.8% for 5-14 weeks, and 18.3% for fewer than five weeks. [Workforce/Employment]
Source: “Employment Situation: Household Data, February 2010,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Labor Force Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, #4675, Washington, DC 20212; 202-691-6378; www.bls.gov. Price: Available online at no charge.
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