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Unemployment Facts

WASHINGTON The unemployment rate hit 10.2% in the United States last month, the highest level since 1983. The rate increased 0.4% over September levels. Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed people has risen by 8.2 million, and the unemployment rate has grown by 5.3 percentage points, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics here. Among other statistics cited

WASHINGTON — The unemployment rate hit 10.2% in the United States last month, the highest level since 1983. The rate increased 0.4% over September levels.

Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed people has risen by 8.2 million, and the unemployment rate has grown by 5.3 percentage points, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics here.

Among other statistics cited by the bureau:

  • Construction employment decreased by 62,000 in October. Since December 2007, employment in construction has fallen by 1.6 million.
  • Manufacturing job losses totaled 61,000 in October. Manufacturing employment has fallen by 2.1 million since December 2007.
  • Retail lost 40,000 jobs in October, with the declines concentrated in sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (16,000 jobs lost) and in department stores (11,000 jobs lost).
  • Health care employment increased in October, adding 29,000 jobs. Since the start of the recession, health care has added 597,000 jobs.