(Unemployment) Jobless Rates Fall in 11 (of 17 battleground) States

[papau]

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UNEMPLOYMENT_STATES?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=BUSINESS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

May 21, 12:03 PM EDT

Agency: Jobless Rates Fall in 11 (of 17 battleground) States

By LEIGH STROPE
AP Labor Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Unemployment rates fell in 11 of the 17 battleground states that could decide the presidential election, with Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin showing the biggest declines last month, the Labor Department said Friday.

Four of the battleground states saw jobless rates rise: Arizona, Arkansas, Ohio and Washington. Jobless rates in two battleground states remained the same: New Mexico and Pennsylvania. Overall, unemployment rates were lower in 29 states, higher in 14 states and the District of Columbia, and unchanged in seven states.<snip>

Michigan posted the largest rate drop last month, declining to 6.1 percent from 6.9 percent in March. Wisconsin's rate fell to 4.6 percent from 5.1 percent.<snip>

Ohio, which has lost tens of thousands of jobs, is shaping up to be one of the most important states in the race between Bush and Democrat John Kerry. In 2000, Al Gore lost Ohio by just 3 percentage points even after abandoning his campaign there. Ohio's unemployment rate ticked up to 5.8 percent last month from 5.7 percent in March.<snip>



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U.S. Department of Labor -Percentage of labor force that was unemployed, by state, in March and April 2004:

State March April

Ala. 5.9 5.8

Alaska 7.1 7.1

Ariz. 4.9 5.4

Ark. 5.4 5.6

Calif. 6.6 6.2

Colo. 4.9 5.1

Conn. 4.9 4.5

Del. 3.8 3.8

D.C. 6.9 7.3

Fla. 4.9 4.6

Ga. 3.6 3.8

Hawaii 3.8 3.6

Idaho 4.6 4.4

Ill. 6.0 6.1

Ind. 5.3 4.9

Iowa 4.1 3.9

Kan. 4.7 4.6

Ky. 5.5 5.3

La. 5.5 5.9

Maine 4.9 4.3

Md. 4.0 4.0

Mass. 5.1 4.8

Mich. 6.9 6.1

Minn. 4.8 4.1

Miss. 4.2 5.0

Mo. 5.0 4.7

Mont. 4.2 4.6

Neb. 3.6 3.5

Nev. 4.4 4.3

N.H. 4.0 3.9

N.J. 5.2 5.3

N.M. 5.6 5.6

N.Y. 6.5 6.2

N.C. 5.2 5.3

N.D. 2.9 2.7

Ohio 5.7 5.8

Okla. 4.8 4.7

Ore. 7.2 6.7

Pa. 5.3 5.3

R.I. 5.6 5.7

S.C. 6.7 6.8

S.D. 3.3 2.8

Tenn. 5.0 4.9

Texas 6.2 6.0

Utah 4.8 4.5

Vt. 3.6 3.6

Va. 3.5 3.4

Wash. 6.1 6.3

W.Va. 5.4 5.2

Wis. 5.1 4.6

Wyo. 3.4 3.4

Puerto Rico 11.7 10.9

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[lovedems]

1. With the Labor Dept. the good news is probably exaggerated

and the bad news is probably worse then we think.

They don't have an ounce of credibility with me.

[Tempest]

2. Do you want fries with that?

In April, 317,000 of the 338,000 jobs created were in the services industry.

And of the 317,000 created in the services industry, more than half was in the temporary services sector.

[Massacure]

3. Industrial jobs are generally better for the economy right?

They give out better pay, and plus extra products can be sold in other countries.

[Tempest]

4. Absolutely

Higher paying and tangible goods.

It should come as no surprise the U.S.' trade deficit has reached record levels under Bush.

We owe much more money for goods coming into the country then is owed us for goods leaving the country.

Before you know it, the U.S. will be a third-world country and China will be the new superpower.

[Robert Oak]

5. How many either rolled off or are working at Walmart?

These "statistics" drive me nuts. One more side issue is to get some
realistic accounting in government.

Accounting isn't supposed to be creative yet constantly we get
increasing political spin in statistics and corporate accounting.

So, how many have simply rolled off the count after being unemployed
and how many went from 50k a year to 11k working part time at Walmart?

I don't think this will change anything, people are outraged over
outsourcing, H-1B, L-1 as well as manfacturing and it's showing up
in the polls.

Public pressure does little to stem job losses
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20040523-9999-1b23offshore.html

BTW: There are some conservative Republicans who are against H-1B, L-1,
outsourcing and don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

[tritsofme]

6. You can't roll of the unemployment rate,

it is calculated through a survey, and does not correlate with the experation of UE benefits.

The only way you are not counted as unemployed is if you stop looking for work, or you find work(no matter how menial the job as you pointed out)