Unemployment

December 19, 2007 - Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November decreased by three-tenths of a percentage point to 7.4 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG). Total employment rose by 25,000 as unemployment declined by 17,000. As a result, the state's labor force edged upward by 8,000 over the month.

Michigan's November 2007 jobless rate is three-tenths of a percentage point above the state's November 2006 rate of 7.1 percent. The national rate rose by two-tenths of a percentage point in the same period.    » read more »

To Upstate NY Border Communities

December 18, 2007 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced the full Senate has passed the Northern Border Economic Development Act of 2007 which will fuel economic growth across Upstate New York. Schumer’s Northern Border Economic Development Act of 2007 will bring economic grants and programs to targeted border communities across Upstate New York.    » read more »

December 17, 2007 -- Salem – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski hailed today’s state jobs report as great news for Oregon ’s working families and a sign that the state economy is regaining its momentum.

“There are more people working in Oregon than ever before,” the Governor said. “This is good news for working families, good news for Oregon businesses and a tribute to the underlying strengths of our economy.”    » read more »

November 30, 2007, Juneau, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today announced that 2008 unemployment insurance tax rates will be the lowest Alaska employers have paid in the past 28 years.

“An average employer will see unemployment insurance taxes decrease 23 percent from 2007,” Governor Palin said. “We can credit a number of factors for the decrease, including more people working in Alaska, lower unemployment rates and an increase of $48 million in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund balance.”    » read more »

November 27, 2007 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved Trade Adjustment Assistance to help workers who will be laid off from the Wausau Paper mill in Groveton at the end of the year. The U.S. Department of Labor informed the Governor’s Office in a phone call this afternoon that the assistance has been approved.    » read more »

November 26, 2007 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. — Unemployment rates rose in 94 Kentucky counties between October 2006 and October 2007, dropped in 18 counties and remained the same in eight counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Education Cabinet.    » read more »

November 21, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Bob Riley has awarded a $1.41 million grant to help create new jobs and encourage economic development in the Shoals area.

The grant will fund improvements in the Barton Industrial Park in Colbert County and help with infrastructure needed for National Alabama Corp. Governor Riley announced in July the company was building a manufacturing facility at the site that will employ 1,800 people.    » read more »

November 20, 2007 -- Maine State Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman announced that the preliminary seasonally-adjusted October unemployment rate for Maine was 4.8 percent, unchanged from 4.8 percent for September and up slightly from 4.7 percent for October 2006. The national unemployment rate for October was 4.7 percent.

“Labor market conditions have changed little recently,” said Commissioner Fortman. “The unemployment rate has remained at 4.8 percent since July.”    » read more »

November 19, 2007 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 6.1 percent in September 2007 to 5.6 percent in October 2007, according to the Office of Employment and Training (OET), an agency of the Kentucky Education Cabinet. October 2006’s jobless rate was 5.7 percent.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained at 4.7 percent from September 2007 to October 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.    » read more »

November 16, 2007 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today sent a letter to 5,400 North Country businesses as part of the State of New Hampshire’s continuing efforts to assist the 303 workers who will be laid off from the Wausau Paper mill in Groveton at the end of the year. The letter asks the businesses to work with the state’s Rapid Response Team to fill any job openings they may have.    » read more »

State Applied for Grant on Tuesday

November 16, 2007 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today applauded the approval of a National Emergency Grant to help the 303 workers who will be laid off from the Wausau Paper mill in Groveton at the end of the year.

The State of New Hampshire submitted an application for the grant on Tuesday. The grant makes available $660,000 in federal funds that can be used for assistance including counseling, job search and job training services for the workers at the mill.    » read more »

November 16, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama’s unemployment rate fell to a new record low in October, Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced on Friday.

The state’s unemployment rate declined from 3.7 percent in September to 3.1 percent in October, the lowest monthly unemployment rate ever. A year ago, Alabama’s unemployment rate stood at 3.6 percent.

Alabama’s unemployment rate is still well below the national rate, which stood at 4.7 percent in October.

During the past 12 months, employment gains in Alabama totaled 24,800.    » read more »

Nov 14, 2007 -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Today, Senator John Edwards released the following statement in reaction to a recently released report on the offshoring of American jobs from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI):    » read more »

Michigan's October Jobless Rate Increases

November 14, 2007 - Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October increased by two-tenths of a percentage point to 7.7 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG). Employment fell by 43,000 and unemployment advanced by 9,000 as the state's labor force declined by 34,000 over the month.    » read more »

November 13, 2007 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch announced today that the state has applied for a federal grant to assist workers who will be laid off from the Wausau Paper mill in Groveton at the end of the year. The U.S. Department of Labor must approve the application.    » read more »