America’s unemployment rate rose above the 10 per cent mark in October to reach a 26-year high after jobless figures rose by 190,000 last month. The largest job losses in October were in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade. Health care employment continued to increase in October with extra 29,000 jobs. Since the start of the recession, health care has added 597,000 positions. Temporary help services also added 34,000 jobs in October.

The American unemployment rate rose to 9.7 percent in August, the highest since June 1983, as employers lost a net total of 216,000 jobs. Average weekly earnings in August rose by only 0.8 percent to $624.29 due to reductions in the average working week.

The United States added nearly 1 million self-employed/nonemployer businesses, bringing the total to 21.7 million, an annual growth rate of 4.5 percent. Three economic sectors made up more than 40 percent of the total receipts — real estate services; professional, technical and scientific services; and specialty trade contractors.

American job losses in February were large and widespread across nearly all major industry sectors with healthcare again proving to be the exception.

Bucking the trend, health care employment continued to grow in December, with month on month job gains in ambulatory services and hospitals. In 2008, the health care industry added 372,000 jobs.

The average weekly earnings of USA’s full-time wage and salary workers was $720 in the third quarter of 2008. This was 3.6 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with an annual rise of 5.3 percent in the cost of living.

As the effects of the current financial crisis continue to spread, American employers are cutting back on plans to grow their businesses. Most now don’t plan to hire any new staff this year. Of 14,000 employers surveyed by Manpower in America 59 percent expect to make no changes to their workforce.

There are many places job-hunters can go for help landing a job, but they should ensure they are using an organization they can trust…

American real average weekly earnings remained virtually unchanged fron June at $606.82 after seasonal adjustment, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor. Over the past 12 months, weekly earnings rose by 2.8 percent. In July, average hourly earnings edged up by 6 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $18.06, seasonally adjusted. This followed gains of 6 cents in May and 5 cents in June.

American real average weekly rose slightly by 0.3 percent from May 2008 to June 2008 to $606.94 after seasonal adjustment, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor. Over the past 12 months, weekly earnings rose by 2.8 percent.