The cutoff of extended benefits comes amid evidence that the ranks of the long-term unemployed are actually increasing, despite a slight downward drop in the official jobless rate since the summer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of those unemployed who have been without work for six months or more rose to 20.3 percent in October from 19.5 percent in September, the highest proportion since October 1994. The total number of such long-term unemployed is estimated at 1.66 million.

Patrick Martin

Please See Also:
U.S. economic outlook: fears of renewed recession—and worse
[15 November 2002]
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/nov2002/econ-n15.shtml

Amid growing signs of new recession U.S. job cuts continue to mount
[2 November 2002]
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/nov2002/jobs-n02.shtml

Unemployment benefits running out for over 3 million US jobless
[2 November 2002]
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/nov2002/unem-n02.shtml

Article republished courtesy of the World Socialist Web Site: http://www.wsws.org

Please also read:
Bush Anything But Moronic, According to Author
Dark Overtones in His Malapropisms
by Murray Whyte
Published on Thursday, November 28, 2002 by the Toronto Star
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1128-02.htm