INSTITUTE INDEX: The looming unemployment crisis
Number of Americans who are currently unemployed: 14.8 million
Average duration of their unemployment: 33.9 weeks
October's overall unemployment rate, essentially unchanged since May: 9.6 percent
Unemployment rate for the South*, according to the latest available numbers: 9.3 percent
Current unemployment rate for whites: 8.8 percent
For Hispanics: 12.6 percent
For blacks: 15.7 percent
For teenagers: 27.1 percent
Number of consecutive months that unemployment has topped 9 percent: 18
Number of American workers out of work for six months or more: more than 6.2 million
Number of jobs the economy added in October: 151,000
If the rate of job growth were to continue at October's rate, number of years it would take for the economy to achieve pre-recession unemployment rates: roughly 20 years
If all current job openings were filled by jobless workers, number of people who would remain without work: 11 million
Number of unemployed workers who will have their unemployment benefits cut off next month if Congress fails to act: 2 million
Amount of money that unemployment benefits pump into the economy every month: about $6.8 billion
Date when Congress returns for a lame-duck session: 11/15
Date when the unemployment benefits extension is set to expire: 11/30
*Facing South counts among the Southern states Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia
(Click on figure to go to the source.)
Average duration of their unemployment: 33.9 weeks
October's overall unemployment rate, essentially unchanged since May: 9.6 percent
Unemployment rate for the South*, according to the latest available numbers: 9.3 percent
Current unemployment rate for whites: 8.8 percent
For Hispanics: 12.6 percent
For blacks: 15.7 percent
For teenagers: 27.1 percent
Number of consecutive months that unemployment has topped 9 percent: 18
Number of American workers out of work for six months or more: more than 6.2 million
Number of jobs the economy added in October: 151,000
If the rate of job growth were to continue at October's rate, number of years it would take for the economy to achieve pre-recession unemployment rates: roughly 20 years
If all current job openings were filled by jobless workers, number of people who would remain without work: 11 million
Number of unemployed workers who will have their unemployment benefits cut off next month if Congress fails to act: 2 million
Amount of money that unemployment benefits pump into the economy every month: about $6.8 billion
Date when Congress returns for a lame-duck session: 11/15
Date when the unemployment benefits extension is set to expire: 11/30
*Facing South counts among the Southern states Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia
(Click on figure to go to the source.)
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Sue Sturgis
Sue is the former editorial director of Facing South and the Institute for Southern Studies.