Unemployment

Friday January 9, 2009

Unemployment increased in December to 7.2%, the highest rate since January 1993. Just about all sectors, other than health care, had significant job losses. Overall, payroll employment fell by 524,000 and the number of unemployed persons increased by 632,000 to 11.1 million. 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008.

If you have lost your job, it's important to be prepared to file your unemployment claim. The unemployment claims systems are overloaded and systems in Ohio, New York, and North Carolina crashed this week, while other state systems are struggling to process claims in a timely manner.

Your best bet is trying to file online, rather than by phone. Have all the information you need at hand, so you can file your claim as expeditiously as possible. If you have trouble getting through or issues with your claim, these unemployment questions and answers, will help you navigate the system and get your claim processed.

Collecting extended benefits can also be problematic. Here's more information on the unemployment extension and how to calculate your benefits.

More: Unemployment Benefits | File for Unemployment