The Jobless Diaspora

Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one the stars.

–Frederick Langbridge (1849–1923), A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts

What optimism is there to see beyond the mud of rising unemployment rates? Although the recruiter would rather hear about job growth, on a day when one is peculiarly given to feeling optimistic, one might see beyond the economic decline.  Looking past the immediate bad news, might there be a time when recruiters can imagine a moment when their skills of placing job candidates will suddenly be in great demand?

If you would like to experiment with this breed of optimism, see if you skew the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in such a way that you can envision future growth in states with huge proportions of jobless residents.

Annual average unemployment rates in 2010 rose in 31 States and the District of Columbia, declined in 18 States, and remained the same in 1 State.  Employment-population ratios decreased in 43 States and the District of Columbia, increased in 3 States, and were unchanged in 4 States.

The U.S. jobless rate was 9.6 percent in 2010, and the national employment-population ratio was 58.5 percent.

In 2010, 15 States reported annual average unemployment rates of 10.0 percent or more.  Nevada recorded the highest rate, 14.9 percent, followed by Michigan, 12.5 percent, and California, 12.4 percent.  (This was the first time since 2005 that Michigan did not post the highest unemployment rate among the States.)  North Dakota again registered the lowest jobless rate among the States, 3.9 percent in 2010.  The States with the next lowest rates were Nebraska and South Dakota, at 4.7 and 4.8 percent, respectively.