Category: Job Market

National Unemployment and State Unemployment is only one facet of our employment picture.  Each industry faces a slightly different situation and the unemployment characteristics reflect this.

Manufacturing:  5.3% unemployment.  Looking at the data a little closer, unemployment in Petroleum and Coal Products is 0.2%.  Given the price of oil, it’s not surprise that anyone in that industry can find a job as oil companies try to expand production.  Furniture and Fixtures is a different story with 8.5% unemployment.

Unemployment is the health care field is also low, with 1.4% unemployment in hospital professionals.

Beverage and Tobacco production has a 9.7% unemployment rate, and Food Services professions are at 8.6%. 

Finally, the financial industry has an unemployment level of 3.7%.  That sounds great, and it is for many, but a loan officer or mortgage broker will probably find it tough to get a job right now.

Each industry has a different situation, and the situation varies by geography.  Smaller communities are more dependent on a small group of employers.  If one of these runs into trouble, it can hurt the entire community. 

* Statistics from U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Although some parts of the country have low unemployment, some are finding less jobs and more job seekers.

Four states and the District of Columbia are experiencing unemployment over 6%.

State	Unemployment Rate
District of Columbia	6
Rhode Island	6.1
California	6.2
Alaska	6.7
Michigan	6.9