Unemployment rate continues rise in February

The Idaho Bureau of Labor released the February jobless rates this week. The year 2010 began with employers hesitant to bring new hires into the labor force, which qualified December of 2009 and January of 2010 as being the least amount of new workers hired in any two-month period on record.

February's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to 9.5 percent and stopping just short of breaking the record 9.6 percent rate in 1982-83.

The February rate jumped another two-tenths of a point to 9.5 percent after rising two-tenths to 9.3 percent in January from a revised December rate of 9.1 percent. That put Idaho within two-tenths of the national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent – the closest Idaho’s rate has been to the national mark since the 2001 recession.

The number of jobless Americans in Eastern Idaho hit 71,000 in February which is up 1,500 from January.

The Idaho Bureau of Labor reported that 20,300 Idahoans  were unemployed in February of 2010.

This is especially bad news for students preparing for graduation.

As senior Rachel Doxey prepares for graduation her apprehension is rising.

"I was excited to graduate and enter the work force" said Doxey " But now I am realizing, 'what work force' there is nothing out there for me."

Graduates are realizing that they are going to have to be willing to work whatever job may come along. Brian Jensen, BYU-I alum graduated Winter of 2009 and is still looking for a job in his chosen field of English, professional writing.

"I have been working at a jewelry store in the mall, and I am getting by" said Jensen " All my college diploma is doing is gathering dust"