The unemployment rate was 9.7% in February, with non-farm payroll employment losing 36,000 jobs. Employment fell in construction and information, while temporary help services added 48,000 jobs. Health care employment continued to grow in February. The number of people working part-time who preferred full-time work rose from 8.3 to 8.8 million in February.
I've heard from unemployed workers who have unexpectedly lost their jobs after 20 or 30 years of working for the same company. And from others, for example, who relocated for a job only to lose it. The unemployment stories that site visitors have shared are sad, some heartbreaking, and very scary.
These stories are only the tip of the unemployment iceberg, so it's important to remember that if you still have your job, you should be prepared to lose it. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of job security at the moment. Here's how to prepare for unemployment while you're employed from About.com's Guide to Human Resources Susan Heathfield.
On a brighter note, even though unemployment is basically flat, there are job market reports showing the number of job openings showing an improvement in January and February, so hopefully that's a trend in the right direction.
More: Unemployment Extension | Share Your Unemployment Story