Unemployment At Highest Level Since 1983

The unemployment rate rose from 9.8 to 10.2 percent in October, and nonfarm payroll employment
continued to decline (-190,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The largest job
losses over the month were in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade.

In October, the number of unemployed persons increased by 558,000 to 15.7 million. The
unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage point to 10.2 percent, the highest rate since April 1983.
Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons has risen by 8.2
million, and the unemployment rate has grown by 5.3 percentage points.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (10.7 percent) and whites
(9.5 percent) rose in October. The jobless rates for adult women (8.1 percent), teenagers (27.6 percent),
blacks (15.7 percent), and Hispanics (13.1 percent) were little changed over the month. The unemploy-
ment rate for Asians was 7.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted.

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was little changed over
the month at 5.6 million. In October, 35.6 percent of unemployed persons were jobless for 27 weeks or
more.

The civilian labor force participation rate was little changed over the month at 65.1 percent. The
employment-population ratio continued to decline in October, falling to 58.5 percent.

The number of persons working part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary
part-time workers) was little changed in October at 9.3 million. These individuals were working part
time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.