unemployment rate

There's no question the United States has a jobs crisis, with an unemployment rate of 9.1% and millions of workers out of a job for more than a year. But a state-by-state view shows that parts of the country are in less dire shape. For today's job seekers, the biggest question may not be if you want a new job, but where are you willing to go to find one?

The stock market came to life this week, as investors bet that the economy wouldn't be as bad as had been priced in. The ISM Index, a gauge of manufacturing activity, rose more than expected, construction spending grew, and Europe started to get its act together on a massive bailout fund. But as usual, it all starts with unemployment.

Recovering financially after long-term unemployment isn't easy, but it's fairly straightforward: Pay off debts, rebuild savings, and adjust to your new income. Recovering emotionally is far more complicated -- it means retraining your brain and consciously shifting your perspective.

September is finally over, and we're heading into a few fast weeks of economic data and earnings releases. With stock market and macroeconomic factors taking new twists nearly every day, it's hard to keep up. So let's focus on the data and news that will matter most to your bottom line.

It's hard not to sound like the Grinch these days: As we head into the holiday season, unemployment remains painfully high, and August 2011 saw a 47% increase in layoffs compared to last year, with no growth in hiring. Poverty stats are equally dismal, with the cost of living rising. Here's how retailers are responding.

Poverty has been rising even faster in the suburbs than it has in cities -- about five times faster, according to the Brookings Institute. To help understand this phenomenon, 24/7 Wall St. has analyzed the 10 metropolitan areas with the highest rates of poverty in their suburbs.

At Mo'joe Cafe in Berkeley, CA, customers huddle over their laptops and lattes, searching for jobs or working remotely as contractors. But business overall -- meaning mainly the "morning rush" -- is slow, and has been since the economic downturn. Could coffee sales be an index of economic health?

Massive layoffs were both a cause and a symptom of the recent recession, but job creation began to revive late last year. Unfortunately, in May, the U.S. added only 58,000 jobs, and layoffs may be on the rise again. This time, they're taking a particular toll on state and local government workers.

New government data shows that the U.S. added just 54,000 new jobs in May, far less than what economists were expecting. The news, which sent the jobless rate up to 9.1%, sent stocks lower on Wall Street.

Looks like rough sailing ahead: Moody's warned the GOP that its game of chicken with the debt ceiling risked a downgrade of U.S. debt. But there are some things that investors can look forward to.