DH says business is picking up but slow. I know several friends who are out of work recently or under employed, lost their job and trying a hand at handyman.

We have had some pick up here in the greater Raleigh NC area in fact my son in law just got a job after 5 months.

It went down slightly here to 11 percent, but we are still the 6th worst state in the union! A neighbor just got layed off, seems worse when you actually know someone!

not in mine, sorry to say.

Not here in Massachusetts. I work in a shelter for homeless families. We have capacity for 29 families and we are always full. As soon as one family moves on, another comes in. When families can't pay the rent they are evicted. We have a computer lab where people can come in to do a resume and job search. Some come in daily to fill out applications online and check their email for replies. It's discouraging. My son has been looking for a part time job since June while still going to school.

Not in VA area near the Williamsburg area. I live in Newport News, VA. I have been unemployed since March 2010. I am now helping my parents and mother-in-law by cleaning their houses and any other odd job I can find. I have a son who just graduated in May and is getting married in June 2011 and another is a sophomore in college. I will probably have to sell my car to make ends meet.

Not here. Only it is worse.

It's still bad in Michigan. My husband got a job in July after being unemployed for 1 1/2 years. At his former job they came in one day and said they were shutting the place down, let him go that day, then two weeks after that it was closed. At least I have a full time job at a school and a part time job at a quilt shop, so we survived.

Not as far as I'm concerned!! :evil: My sweetie has been unemployed now for 17 months. He only has 5 weeks left of unemployment. Not sure what will happen then. It's going to be so difficult for us. I do work, but I don't make a lot of money. We'll get by, but just barely. He looks everyday for a job. He's been on a couple of interviews, but nothing has come of them. He is such a hard worker, always on time, never misses unless really ill (which has been maybe twice in about 5 years), and it's so frustrating to see people who have jobs and not doing them the way they should!

If there is anyone out there who would like to say a prayer for him, please do so. It is so stressful, and he is beginning to feel like a failure.

well it disapppeared