To put things in context, below is a graph that show the United States unemployment rate back to the 1940s (i.e. post-Depression era).

As the chart demonstrates, we are currently [...]]]>

Since the current recession began in 2008 there has been a lot of talk about how the current unemployment rate compares with historical unemployment rates.

To put things in context, below is a graph that show the United States unemployment rate back to the 1940s (i.e. post-Depression era).

As the chart demonstrates, we are currently experiencing the highest unemployment rate since the early 1980s. Back then, the national unemployment rate peaked at 10.8% in November and December of 1982. When you dive into the data on the state and city levels, there are more interesting statistics that emerge:

• West Virginia experienced the highest unemployment rate among all 50 states during the 1980s, peaking at over 18% in March of 1983.
• South Dakota witnessed the lowest levels of unemployment compared with the other 49 states, reaching a level of only 5.9% during October of 1982.
• Certain metropolitan areas have been hit particularly hard during the current recession. Fresno, California is a prime example, with a stated unemployment rate above 29%

If you’d like to see a quick graph of the historical unemployment rates in your state or county, check out Google Public Data. This graph shows Los Angeles county, and can be compared with other counties, states, or even the United States as a whole.

What is the “Base Period”? The Employment Security Commission sets the rules in North Carolina, and the Base Period is the first thing they will use to determine [...]]]>

Recently, I have received a number of emails from people in North Carolina asking about unemployment eligibility, and I thought I’d share some of the highlights below:

NC Unemployment Eligibility

What is the “Base Period”?
The Employment Security Commission sets the rules in North Carolina, and the Base Period is the first thing they will use to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance. Essentially, the Base Period is the amount of time that you worked over the last five calendar quarters (15 months). You will need to show that you were working for at least four of the last five quarters. Don’t worry if you were not working for four consecutive quarter – you just need to demonstrate that you were employed for 12 of the last 15 months.

What if I quit?
In most cases, unemployment benefits are only available if you were laid off. If you left your job voluntarily, this will generally disqualify you, but there are some exceptions. You may have to appeal your claim in order to gain access to benefits.

How much will I receive?
The weekly benefit amount in North Carolina ranges from $36 – $426. The amount you get will depend on how long you worked and how much you earned during your Base Period.

Anything else I should know?
While you are receiving benefits, the ESC requires that you look for work. They define this as going in person on “two different days with at least two different employers”. The ESC also asks that you keep a written record of these job searches.

If you have further questions about NC unemployment eligibility, please leave a comment below, or vist the Smart Unemployment contact page.

While your thoughts may be focused on finding your next job, here are five quick action steps you should consider before beginning the [...]]]>

Have you received a layoff letter? If so, you’re not alone – Literally millions of Americans have faced being out of work at one point or another during their careers.

While your thoughts may be focused on finding your next job, here are five quick action steps you should consider before beginning the job search:

1. Gather your paperwork. Collect all of the information that your employer provided at departure, including the layoff letter, and a copy of an old pay stub.

2. Find the contact information for your boss or human resources manager – you’ll need this for your unemployment claim application.

3. Determine the dates you were employed. This is very important in determining your unemployment eligibility.

4. Calculate how much you earned over the past year.

5. Find out where to apply. Here is a list of links to all 50 state websites if you are looking to file for unemployment benefits online. Applying online (vs. over the phone or in person) enables you to collect benefits much sooner.

A layoff may not be fun, and the formalized layoff letter doesn’t do much to help. It can, however, greatly help in supporting your eligibility for unemployment benefits, and can be viewed as the first page in the next chapter of your career.

Note: Once you have successfully filed for unemployment benefits, take a look at our Career Resources page for a comprehensive list of tools and websites to help you in the job search process.

One definition (courtesy of BusinessDictionary.com) describes frictional unemployment as follows: “Temporary unemployment arising out of the inevitable time lags in the [...]]]>

Economists love the notion of “frictional unemployment.” Some may go as far as to say that all unemployment is frictional – meaning a mismatch in the supply land demand for labor.

One definition (courtesy of BusinessDictionary.com) describes frictional unemployment as follows: “Temporary unemployment arising out of the inevitable time lags in the functioning of labor markets, such as the time taken in moving from one job to another.”

Said another way, if you are out of work and looking for a new job, an economist might classify you as unemployed due to the “friction” in the economy.

Here’s an example: if you worked for an automobile manufacturer in Michigan, and your job was replaced by a worker at a facility in Korea, your unemployment could be considered frictional, as you would be looking for another opportunity to work with the skills you have or learn additional skills that would allow you to pursue a different type of job.

While logically sound, I have trouble the idea of frictional unemployment because it is too theoretical. It is easy for an economist to pontificate about the state of unemployment, but it is much more difficult when you are a personal victim of the “friction.”

Take a look at the short video below by Latoya Egwuekwe. It is an excellent compilation of county-level unemployment data over the course of the recession. [Note: There is no audio.]

There are currently over 15 million people unemployed. When you take into account everyone else who is underemployed, involuntarily working part-time, or who have given up looking for work, the number jumps to over 30 million!

Is this just frictional unemployment?

One of the first things you need to do is to sign up for unemployment benefits.

At any given time, millions of people are out of work. But, believe it or not, less than half of Americans who are unemployed actually receive unemployment benefits!

Typically, unemployment benefits last for [...]]]>

Were you recently laid off?

One of the first things you need to do is to sign up for unemployment benefits.

At any given time, millions of people are out of work. But, believe it or not, less than half of Americans who are unemployed actually receive unemployment benefits!

Typically, unemployment benefits last for a maximum of 26 weeks. With the recent state and federal programs and subsidies, however, you can now get up to 99 weeks of unemployment compensation. At over $450 per week in some states, this amounts to nearly $45,000 of money from the government while you are searching for a job.

Applying for unemployment benefits is a relatively straightforward process, and can be accomplished online or over the phone.

Once you have decided to sign up for unemployment benefits, the next step is to determine your unemployment eligibility.

The most recent data from the Labor Department shows that there are 2.4 million job openings available across the country. Sounds great, right?

Here’s the challenge: The 2.4 millions jobs pales in comparison to the over 15 million people who are unemployed. [...]]]>

If you are reading this, you are probably looking for a job.

The most recent data from the Labor Department shows that there are 2.4 million job openings available across the country. Sounds great, right?

Here’s the challenge: The 2.4 millions jobs pales in comparison to the over 15 million people who are unemployed. In other words, there are over six people available for each job. On top of this, 85,000 more jobs were lost in December 2009.

While this may sound overwhelming, here is one strategy for finding a new position in ANY job environment: Go where the growth is.

I know you are thinking, “you just said that 85,000 jobs were lost last month”. Indeed, but this across the economy as a whole. Looking closely at the numbers from the Labor Department, some secrets about the job market are revealed:

• Professional and Technical Services gained almost 9,000 jobs. The two key subcategories here were architectural / engineering services and computer systems design.
• Health Care and Social Assistance added nearly 25,000 jobs. Specific areas of growth: offices of physicians, home health care services, and hospitals.
• Federal Government created over 3,000 jobs.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics published a survey in 2008 showing that Americans hold an average of 10.8 jobs over the course of their careers. Don’t be afraid to learn a new skill, and go where the growth is.

As of December 2009, the statewide unemployment rate was 9%, which is the highest it’s been in 26 years. Equally important is the [...]]]>

As the 3rd most populated state in the country, New York has not escaped the recession. NYS unemployment benefits are on the minds of millions of people throughout the state.

The Statistics

As of December 2009, the statewide unemployment rate was 9%, which is the highest it’s been in 26 years. Equally important is the number of people who are unemployed: 869,000.

Despite these figures, the New York State unemployment rate at 9.0% is still below the national figure of 10.0%.

Across the state, the unemployment rate really varies by county, with Tompkins County (5.3%) at the low end, and Hamilton County (11.2%) at the high end. New York City has an unemployment rate of 10.6%. And, excluding NYC from the figures, the unemployment rate across New York state goes down to 7.8%.

NYS Unemployment Benefits

The current (January 2010) maximum weekly unemployment check in New York state is $405. With additional money from the Federal stimulus program, there is an additional $25 per week, bringing the total to $430 per week.

In New York, you are likely to be eligible to receive up to 99 weeks of unemployment benefits. Here’s the break down:

• Regular Benefits: 26 weeks
• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) (Tier 1): 20 weeks
• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (Tier 2): 14 weeks
• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (Tier 3): 13 weeks
• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (Tier 4): 6 weeks
• Extended Benefits (EB): 20 weeks

There you have it – nearly 2 years of unemployment benefits!

If you’re looking to see how many weeks you’ll be eligible for, take a look at the NYS Department of Labor’s UI Benefits Calculator.

Where the Jobs Are

According to the Department of Labor, the key areas adding jobs in New York are health and educational services.

If you are looking for a new job, or looking to switch into a different field, take a look at our Career Resources page.

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