http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/jobless-total-exceeds-population-four-states-132111312.html Sure does look like we have a lot of work to do to turn these jobless numbers around.
Not much has changed over the last year or so... 31% of Jobless Out of Work for a Year or More 11/03/11 -- Multiple reports out this month show the labor market heading in a better direction with hiring picking up and fewer layoffs happening, but there is still one ominous sign all is not well: the vast number of the long-term unemployed.
The high number of LONG-TERM unemployed is not likely to decrease. Here's 2 reasons why. 1. Workers who got fired from their last job can't produce a good job reference, even if the firing wasn't their fault. 2. Immigration - As long as millions of foreigner keep streaming in and getting issued work visas, Americans will always be deffered from those jobs. Same with illegal immigration. Neither of these is being addressed by Obama or the Congress. Obama doesn't want to offend the Hispanic vote, and republicans don't want to spend the money to fix illegal immigration. The hiring methodology of supplying past employment history has never even been mentioned to my knowledge. http://www.politicalforum.com/current-events/214932-creating-jobs-wont-erase-unemployment.html
To protectionist: Heres #3 for your list: Mexican Trucks Are on Our Roads Phyllis Schlafly Nov 8, 2011 http://townhall.com/columnists/phyllisschlafly/2011/11/08/mexican_trucks_are_on_our_roads/page/full/