National Unemployment Update
Unemployment Drops to 8.1 Percent in April 2012
May 4, 2012
The unemployment rate dropped slightly in April, down to 8.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s the lowest unemployment rate since February 2009 and a significant drop from the 9.0% unemployment rate in April 2011.
The number of long-term unemployed, those jobless for 27 weeks or more, was also down for the month, to approximately 5.1 million workers. The long-term unemployed make up 41.3 percent of the unemployed but the situation has improved significantly over the last year. In April 2011, there were 5.8 million long-term unemployed workers, representing 43.4% of the unemployed.
Overall employment increased by 115,000 jobs in April, a more modest gain than anticipated. The sectors of professional and business services, retail trade, health care, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing all saw increases in employment, while the transportation sector saw job losses in April. Jobs in the construction, mining, and wholesale trade sectors remained steady, as did public employment.
Unemployment figures for May will be released on Friday, June 1, 2012.
U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Press Release
National Unemployment Rates, 2008 - 2012
| |
Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 2012 |
8.3 |
8.3 |
8.2 |
8.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2011 |
9.0 |
8.9 |
8.8 |
9.0 |
9.1 |
9.2 |
9.1 |
9.1 |
9.1 |
9.0 |
8.6 |
8.5 |
| 2010 |
9.7 |
9.7 |
9.7 |
9.9 |
9.7 |
9.5 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
9.6 |
9.6 |
9.8 |
9.4 |
| 2009 |
7.6 |
8.1 |
8.5 |
8.9 |
9.4 |
9.5 |
9.4 |
9.7 |
9.8 |
10.2 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
| 2008 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
5.1 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
5.6 |
5.8 |
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.6 |
6.8 |
7.2 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment Insurance Main Page
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