August Unemployment

Posted Friday, September 04 2009

The BLS updated the national unemployment data for August 2009 this morning. The headline unemployment rate rose to 9.7% in August from 9.4% in July but the loss of 216,000 jobs was actually less than economists were expecting. The broader measures of unemployment U-5 and U-6 also rose in August. U-5, which includes marginally attached workers, is now at 11%. U-6, which includes marginally attached workers and individuals who have taken part-time work even though they would rather have full-time work, is now at 16.8%.