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Articles: [|Unemployment Rates] -The Labor department announced on Friday that 84,000 jobs were lost in August 2008. The unemployment rate was 6.1%. This rate has been the highest since September 2003. Over the last 60 years unemployment rates varied from a low of 2.5% to a high of 10.8%. According to the national Bureau of economic research we had 10 recession periods between the years of 1948 and 2001. By looking at the graphs the unemployment rate has rose sharply. [|When Home Shrinks] -Many families have to downsize their home due to the uncertainty of the economy -It has a mental effect on the children. The Evans' children thought that this house would be the home they take their kids to for christmas when they're older. -Families realize that they need to downsize due to unemployment but have a difficult time letting go and telling their children. -Since the market is also poor, many families are becoming desperate asking for family to move in with them to make rent cheaper. -Losing your job makes your realize the things you have that are unneccesary. [|Unemployment & Job Displacement: The Impact on Families and Children] -Over a half-million parents experienced long-term unemployment in October of 2002 -Over one million jobless workers have already lost their benefits. -Bush tried helping unemployment, still a problem today with Obama as president -“The President's words are welcome but families are already hurt. Instead of holiday greetings, hundreds of thousands of other struggling families will get the news that their unemployment benefits will expire. Undoing this damage should be Congress' first act when it returns in January. President Bush must make it clear that he supports at least 13 weeks of extended benefits for all long-term unemployed workers.” -affects the children of the unemployed -“A respected body of research documents that when families sustain income losses during their children's early years, children are more likely to perform poorly in school and to complete fewer years of education later on,” the organization says. [] -Many Americans took out loans they could not afford -Others were enticed into loans they did not understand by lenders trying to make a quick profit -Obama would like to get kids to study harder in school, hoping more will choose to become teachers or scientists that can contribute to helping our society. -Obama plans to enact a tax cut for 95% of working families and created a recovery act with $75 billion in tax cuts, to help businesses create jobs for more workers. -He hopes by stabilizing our financial system, promoting our auto industry, we can become more competitive and will help speed up the process to recovery for America. -Another act plans to save 3.5 million jobs and expand credit for homeowners and small businesses. -Fortune 500 specializes in creating jobs, innovating products, and servicing for consumers and long-term value for their shareholders. Class Survey on Unemployment

1.Do you know anyone who's currently unemployed or have been? ☐ Yes ☐ No

2.What was their job prior to their unemployment?

3.Did this effect you in any personal way? Why or why not?