State by State US unemployment number questions...

[downtown]

So MSNBC has a graphic out right now that shows the most recent state by state unemployment numbers, as well as national unemployment statistics. A lot of it is stuff that would expect...unemployment is going up, states that were heavy into manufacturing (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio) have higher employment rates, as do states that have economies that are tied to things like tourism (like Florida and Nevada)

But a few things struck me as weird. If you go msnbc.com you can see the map for yourself.


1) Why does West Virgina have such a lot unemployment rate when compared to its neighbors, like Kentucky and Ohio? WV has a rate of 4.9%, compared to 7.8% of Ohio, 7.8% for Kentucky, and 6.7% for Penn. WV has one of the lowest rates for college degrees, and industrially, it seems similar to those three states. Whats the difference?

2) Whats going on in North Carolina, RI and Oregon? I didn't expect their rates to be so high.

3) What does Iowa do that the rest of the midwest doesn't?

Other thoughts/questions/answers?

 

[Bill3000]

1) Why does West Virgina have such a lot unemployment rate when compared to its neighbors, like Kentucky and Ohio? WV has a rate of 4.9%, compared to 7.8% of Ohio, 7.8% for Kentucky, and 6.7% for Penn. WV has one of the lowest rates for college degrees, and industrially, it seems similar to those three states. Whats the difference?

It's West Virginia.

Edit: Crap, that's a positive for West Virginia, my bad.

 

[emzie]

1) Why does West Virgina have such a lot unemployment rate when compared to its neighbors, like Kentucky and Ohio? WV has a rate of 4.9%, compared to 7.8% of Ohio, 7.8% for Kentucky, and 6.7% for Penn. WV has one of the lowest rates for college degrees, and industrially, it seems similar to those three states. Whats the difference?

Coal isn't going to drop in demand like cars are.

3) What does Iowa do that the rest of the midwest doesn't?

People still need to eat... and subsidize ethanol

 

[Mowque]

The coal industry is booming.

 

[bhsup]

Thing is, the rates really are not all that bad. Missouri is at 5.2% right now. The national average is at 4.7%.

Link to the chart DT was talking about: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27913794/

 

[LucyDuke]

2) Whats going on in North Carolina, RI and Oregon? I didn't expect their rates to be so high.

Manufacturing, for one. We used to be a big manufacturing center, way back. That's been on a long decline, and the decline's steepened recently. Thanks China.

Health care and education are pretty much the only sectors holding strong in RI. We've got some great schools, and our hospitals are pretty good too.

We also used to do well with our marine resources, but that isn't holding up against the forces taking everything else down.

RI is not a great place to base your business. We have a ton of really stupid regulatory laws, and our business taxes are seriously nasty. Unless you need some kind of relationship with the ocean that RI doesn't overregulate, or you need the education/healthcare climate, there's not much reason to set up shop in RI with our nasty regulations and taxes, rather than thirty miles away in MA or CT. Boston's got us matched in hospitals and schools anyway.

Also retail and tourism are crashing hard.

 

[Gilder]

2) Whats going on in North Carolina, RI and Oregon? I didn't expect their rates to be so high.

Our biggest industries aren't usually very reliable. If I remember correctly, hospitality is one of the bigger ones.

 

[LucyDuke]

Yeah, even in the best of times I can't really understand why someone would want to come visit RI, forget the worst of times. Newport's probably feeling a nastier crunch than the Providence metro.

 

[CaptainF]

2) Whats going on in North Carolina, RI and Oregon? I didn't expect their rates to be so high.

I don't know the exact reason why our unemployment rate is so high, but I suspect that it might have to do with the massive downturn in home sales and construction. The timber and logging industries are the lifeblood of the Oregon economy, and if no one wants wood to build houses then you're going to see a lot of timber industry people out of a job.

 

[Godwynn]

The national average is at 4.7%.

In September 2007, now it is 7.6%

 

[emzie]

Canada lost 129,000 jobs last month. Multiply that by 10 to factor in for the population differences between the two countries and that's kinda harsh. Funny part is the US has surpassed our unemployment rate

Thing is, the rates really are not all that bad. Missouri is at 5.2% right now. The national average is at 4.7%.

Link to the chart DT was talking about: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27913794/

Let's do the time warp againnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

eg: you're looking at 2007 on the MSNBC link. Drag the date bar to Dec 08 where Missouri is at 7.3% Have a nice day.

 

[bhsup]

Gah, frick. Sorry.

 

[Phlegmak]

Look at this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27844127

What is that spike at the end of the Clinton years for the employees of the federal government?

 

[Naskra]

census-takers

 

[emzie]

I like how MSNBC's videos on "Economy in Turmoil" are sponsored by amex.

 

[IglooDame]

Yeah, even in the best of times I can't really understand why someone would want to come visit RI, forget the worst of times. Newport's probably feeling a nastier crunch than the Providence metro.

There's a New England Fetish Fleamarket being hosted in Providence next weekend...

 

[LucyDuke]

Ooh, economic stimulation.

 

[IglooDame]

Ooh, economic stimulation.

Are you kidding? You can spend a couple grand there without breaking a sweat (till you actually use what you bought, anyway).

Oh wait - economic, not economical. Nevermind.

 

[Maimonides]

Even though VRWCAgent's unemployment chart is 4 years out dated & doesn't include WWII, I noticed something interesting. Unemployment fell sharply during the military draft periods of the Korean & Vietnamese wars. Of course, that makes sense as thousands of young men being drafted leaves jobs at home to be filled. Unemployment rose during both Gulf wars, but there was no draft going on.

Before anyone says it, I am NOT advicating a draft to help the economy.

Look at this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27844127

What is that spike at the end of the Clinton years for the employees of the federal government?

Clinton was the last president to balance a budget. One way he did it was by trimming the federal payroll including his White House staff.

There's a New England Fetish Fleamarket being hosted in Providence next weekend...

Ooh, economic stimulation.

Are you kidding? You can spend a couple grand there without breaking a sweat (till you actually use what you bought, anyway).

Oh wait - economic, not economical. Nevermind.

I think the operative word there is "stimulation," not "economic" or "economical."

Yeah, even in the best of times I can't really understand why someone would want to come visit RI, forget the worst of times. Newport's probably feeling a nastier crunch than the Providence metro.

I haven't heard good things about Providence so I have no desire to go there, but I love Newport! I found it by accident in my younger days when I was on a driving tour of the northeast & I liked the place so much I went back again alone & yet again years later to show the island to my wife. I'd love to go back & recommend a visit to anyone. I almost moved there.