Working it Out

Melissa Harmon produced "Working it Out." Read her blog entry, and post your comments. Photo of Melissa Harmon.

The Personal Side of Unemployment

posted by Melissa Harmon

Unemployment hit 9.7 percent today, its highest level in 26 years. That milestone came as I was wrapping up production on our Labor Day special edition “Working It Out” focusing on the nation’s employment picture.

The unemployment rate's 26-year high got me thinking about the 26 year old in my life - my eldest niece. Jamie was laid off this summer from her job at an Internet marketing firm. But it wasn't her first layoff since finishing college. A previous employer in the same field went bankrupt. So while she loves marketing and finds SEO copywriting fascinating, she stays busy looking for a job by day and... + More

A list of websites you can visit to learn about the resources used in "Working it Out" and the U.S. job market. People in line

Challenger, Gray, & Christmas (PDF)

Economic Policy Institute

Robert Brusca's GPS for Investors

Robert Reich's Blog

U.S. Unemployment Rate

An NBR Special - Premieres Sept 7, 2009

This Labor Day, NBR examines the employment situation in America from a personal perspective. The numbers are startling: 7 million jobs lost and unemployment nearing 10%. And, the faces behind those numbers are troubled. They are men and women struggling to make ends meet and battling for a new scarce resource -- a job.

Meet some of these men and women in "Working it Out." Paul Kangas and Susie Gharib are your guides through this Labor Day special, which also includes some job hunting tips and a look at the sectors most likely to hire.

Report: The New Unemployed

Diane Eastabrook talks with jobless professionals trying to find their way back into the labor market.
Read Transcript | Video

Report: The Underemployed

Many Americans are settling for part-time jobs or have stopped looking for work. Suzanne Pratt examines the implications.
Read Transcript | Video