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The nationwide unemployment rate has hit 8.1 percent, according to the latest government statistics.
In figures released this week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payroll employment had fallen by 651,000 during the month of February, pushing the unemployment rate up from 7.6 to 8.1 percent in the process.
In total, 12.5 million Americans are now unemployed, according to the report, which cited a combined drop of 2.6 million jobs over the past four months. A total of 2.9 million Americans now fall into the "long-term unemployed" category as well, a number that increased by 270,000 last month.
Separately, a Washington Post report noted that the previous three months have each recorded more job losses than any previous month going back to the recession of 1949.
Elsewhere, economist Nigel Gault told the Associated Press that "there's no hope for a turnaround any time soon," because "job losses were everywhere" during the previous month. The report also noted that the current jobless figure hasn't been matched since December of 1983, when the figure stood at 8.3 percent.
U.S. unemployment goes over eight percent
The nationwide unemployment rate has hit 8.1 percent, according to the latest government statistics. In figures released this week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payroll employment had fallen by 651,000 during the month of February, pushing the unemployment rate up from 7.6 to 8.1 percent in the process.
In total, 12.5 million Americans are now unemployed, according to the report, which cited a combined drop of 2.6 million jobs over the past four months. A total of 2.9 million Americans now fall into the "long-term unemployed" category as well, a number that increased by 270,000 last month.
Separately, a Washington Post report noted that the previous three months have each recorded more job losses than any previous month going back to the recession of 1949.
Elsewhere, economist Nigel Gault told the Associated Press that "there's no hope for a turnaround any time soon," because "job losses were everywhere" during the previous month. The report also noted that the current jobless figure hasn't been matched since December of 1983, when the figure stood at 8.3 percent.
