Unemployment Rate Rises to 9.8 Percent in November

Only 39,000 net jobs were added last month, as unemployment climbed to its highest level since April, showing how weak the 'recovery' is.

The private sector added 50,000 jobs last month. Most of the gain was in healthcare and temporary help services. Despite the Christmas shopping season, retail shed jobs in November. Government employment fell by 11,000 jobs, as municipal governments continue to struggle with budget deficits.

The manufacturing sector also lost jobs for the fourth month in a row, as failed trade policies continue to erode this cornerstone of the economy.

Almost half of people currently on unemployment have been unemployed for over six months. Combined with the people under-employed and who have given up seeking work, the total, true unemployment figure is estimated at 17 percent by the Labor Department.

The economy must add at least 140,000 jobs each month to make any real dent in unemployment figures, due to population growth and other factors.

“The overall pace of job growth is disappointing,” said John Silvia, an chief economist at Wells Fargo. Millions of Americans probably agree, as federal unemployment benefits will expire by the end of the year unless Congress acts. Senate Republicans have vowed to block all legislation until the Bush tax cuts and budget deficit are addressed, leaving no legislation in place to further extend unemployment benefits.

Despite a report from the Department of Labor that unemployment benefits are the most efficient form of economic stimulus the government can provide, many senators are far more concerned about tax cuts. This is ridiculous and petty partisan politics that is destroying America. While the budget is an important issue, such childish behavior is preventing Congress from acting on issues such as this.

To prevent long-term, structural unemployment, we must re-examine our foreign trade polices, and make an active effort to reduce our trade deficit. Through such measures, unemployment can be brought down, and the American economy can prosper yet again.