By The Numbers

Unemployment Rising Fastest Among Unskilled

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Chart Data

Feb-08 Feb-09
Less than high school diploma8.6 %12.6 %
High school graduate5.4 %8.3 %
Some college4.1 %7 %
College diploma2.1 %4.1 %

As the economy slows and unemployment rises, sharp differences are emerging among workers with various educational backgrounds. Unskilled workers, those defined as without a high school education, have the highest levels of unemployment and the largest growth in joblessness over the last year, while those with a college education have so far experienced only a modest uptick in unemployment. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics