10 worst states for job hunting. In other words, states the Dems

could win. Some will be tougher (very red) than others, but should be contested to make the Reps spend money there instead of the swing states.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/02/25/worst.job.states/index.html

1. Michigan
Unemployment rate: 7.6 percent
Population: 10,071,822
Mean annual wage: $41,230
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (18.4 percent)***

2. Mississippi
Unemployment rate: 6.8 percent
Population: 2,918,785
Mean annual wage: $30,460
Top industry: Government (21.2 percent)

3. South Carolina
Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent
Population: 4,407,709
Mean annual wage: $33,400
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (19.4 percent)

4. Alaska
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent
Population: 683,478
Mean annual wage: $43,920
Top industry: Government (25.9 percent)

5. California
Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent
Population: 36,553,215
Mean annual wage: $44,180
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (18.9 percent)

6. District of Columbia
Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent
Population: 588,292
Mean annual wage: $61,500
Top industry: Government (33.3 percent)

7. Ohio
Unemployment rate: 6 percent
Population: 11,466,917
Mean annual wage: $37,360
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (19.3 percent)

8. Arkansas
Unemployment rate: 5.9 percent
Population: 2,834,797
Mean annual wage: $30,870
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (20.6 percent)

9. Nevada
Unemployment rate: 5.8 percent
Population: 2,565,382
Mean annual wage: $36,000
Top industry: Leisure and hospitality (26.5 percent)

10. Kentucky
Unemployment rate: 5.7 percent
Population: 4,241,474
Mean annual wage: $33,490
Top industry: Trade, transportation and utilities (20.4 percent)

for seven months (while taking treatment for breast cancer). I have finished all surgery, chemo, etc. and have been sending out non-stop resumes and cold calling business for almost two months now without even a nibble. I don't want to move because my mother is sick and she needs me near by but I have moved beyond simple financial worries to real problems and have to accept that I might have to move off my little house on the hill to find work. I'm in Kentucky and while there are plenty of job postings I'm not getting called for any interviews at all. I'm now paranoid that my medical history (while I'm not sharing the info one government contractor did call and was aware of my medical history - how did that happen?) is keeping me from getting calls for jobs that I could easily handle. I'm a good, hard worker, have owned two businesses, managed several companies and have a good solid work history in management, bookkeeping, accounting, graphic design legal and medical offices - and cancer free. What's not to love?

I keep telling myself if I can hold out until next January when a Dem gets in the White House things will HAVE to turn around for all Americans. Right now it just seems like a pipe dream.

and taking jobs outside them. I wouldn't count on high unemployment making the difference.

People who are stuck in houses that are losing value every day might make the difference if our candidate can get them to connect the dots.

They're stuck with the high unemployment, unable to sell and unable to move.

It's not just that a heck of a lot of the state is red, red, red. It's population loss from key Dem areas and being disenfranchised in the primary. A lot of rank-and-file Dems are super-ticked off about that. McCain's also quite popular here for some reason (most only know what the news tells them or what they hear at church or work or in snippets here and there and really don't know much about the guy). We're going to have a very, very difficult time getting people to vote Dem. Honestly, I think the only one who can win most of Michigan is Obama--he's saying the right things, even though he took his name off the ballot and didn't campaign here (which he'll have to answer for here without pissing off the majority of Michiganders).

http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/cgi/databrowsing/localAreaProfileQSResults.asp?selectedarea=Butte+County&selectedindex=4&menuChoice=localAreaPro&state=true&geogArea=0604000007&countyName=

The unemployment rate in Butte County was 7.4 percent in December 2007, up from 6.5 percent in November 2007, and above the year-ago estimate of 5.9 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.9 percent for California and 4.8 percent for the nation during the same period.

and from the bottom of page two
Effective with the release of the February data on March 24, 2006, we will no longer release revised monthly labor force data for the previous month. Labor force data for all geographic areas will not be revised until the annual benchmark process.

Dec 06 Oct 07 Nov 07 Dec 07 Percent Change Month Year

Civilian Labor Force (1) 102,400 104,300 104,500 104,500 0.0% 2.1%
Civilian Employment 96,400 98,000 97,700 96,800 -0.9% 0.4%
Civilian Unemployment 6,000 6,300 6,800 7,700 13.2% 28.3%
Civilian Unemployment Rate 5.9% 6.1% 6.5% 7.4% (CA Unemployment Rate) 4.6% 5.4% 5.6% 5.9%
(U.S. Unemployment Rate) 4.3% 4.4% 4.5% 4.8%

Total, All Industries (2) 79,300 81,600 81,400 80,700 -0.9% 1.8%


Government 18,500 18,500 18,800 18,900 0.5% 2.2%
Federal Government 500 600 500 500 0.0% 0.0%
State and Local Government 18,000 17,900 18,300 18,400 0.5% 2.2%
State Government 3,800 4,000 4,000 4,000 0.0% 5.3%
State Government Education 3,000 3,100 3,100 3,100 0.0% 3.3%
Other State Government 800 900 900 900 0.0% 12.5%
Local Government 14,200 13,900 14,300 14,400 0.7% 1.4%