Thread: Payrolls Declined in 25 U.S. States, Led by North Carolina

Payrolls Declined in 25 U.S. States, Led by North Carolina

Friday, 21 Oct 2011 12:15 PM

Payrolls fell in 25 U.S. states in September, led by North Carolina and Ohio, a sign the weakness in the job market is broad-based.

Employers cut staff by 22,200 in North Carolina last month and by 21,600 in Ohio, according to Labor Department data issued today in Washington. The report also showed the jobless rate decreased in 25 states. Nevada continued to lead the nation in unemployment with a rate of 13.4 percent.

The economy needs to generate faster sustained job growth to lower unemployment and spur the consumer spending that makes up about 70 percent of the economy.

A Labor Department report on Oct. 7 showed employers added 103,000 payrolls last month, almost half of them telecommunications workers returning from a strike, and the jobless rate was 9.1 percent for a third month.

“The majority of states will likely continue to grapple with a high unemployment for the foreseeable future as economic activity stagnates,â€

Unemployment Programs in Worst Shape Since 1935

Thursday, 20 Oct 2011 10:18 AM

By Greg McDonald

State unemployment insurance programs are in their worst financial shape since they were established in 1935 and their outstanding debts to the U.S. Treasury total $37 billion, according to a new report from the National Academy of Social Insurance.

“The current financing crisis in state [unemployment] programs can be described as a perfect storm resulting from the constellation of four factors,â€