Catherwood LibraryILR School

As April employment numbers come in, it is clear that the US economy is not out of the woods yet - eight states moved into the double digits for unemployment this month. The unemployment rate was highest in Michigan, but California had the greatest net loss, with over 63,000 jobs lost in April. Texas, Ohio, and South Carolina also did poorly. Layoffs hit manufacturing, construction, and retail hard in all states with high unemployment. According to Federal Reserve officials the economy is expected to begin growing again late this year, but it is not expected that companies will flock to re-hire workers. High unemployment is anticipated through 2011 at least. Only six states in the nation did not lose jobs this month, including Arkansas, Florida, and Montana.