September 7, 2010 Employment and Career Transition Stats

A collection of facts and figures from the world of work, and even more so for those who wish they were working.

1. Amount the Obama Administration proposes to spend on transportation infrastructure: $50 Billion
2. Miles of road to be built or rebuilt, miles of rail, and miles of runway: 150,000; 4,000; 150
3. Percentage of people ages 16-23 who had jobs in August 2010; August 2000: 47.6%; 62.8%
4. The last time the percentage was that low: not since the government started tracking the figure in 1948.
5. Percentage of men who elected to receive Social Security payments before age 66: 72%
6. The August national unemployment rate for workers aged 55 and over: 7.3% - the lowest of any age group.
7. Increase in number of Army recruits with post-secondary degrees (Associates, Bachelors, Masters) from 2008-2009: 16%
8. Number of people added to corporate and government payrolls thus far in 2010: 723,000
9. Percentage gain that number represents of overall lost jobs since “recession” began in 2007: 8.6% (8.4 million jobs)
10. Number of jobs listed on NWJobs.com in the past month within 50 miles of Seattle: 4,712