The numbers are in and we lost 2.6 million jobs in 2008, making it the worst year since 1945. How do you picture 2.6 million jobs? Well, by looking at Wisconsin. Or Missouri. Or Maryland.

CNN says:

November, in which 584,000 jobs were lost, and December marked the first time in the 70-year history of the report in which the economy lost more than 500,000 jobs in consecutive months.

“We have a bigger economy now, but even on a proportional basis, the last months have been the worst since [1945],” said Kurt Karl, head of economic research at Swiss Re. “It’s just an enormous acceleration of job losses.”

By comparison, the 2.6 million jobs lost in 2008 nationwide were equal to the number of jobs found in states such as Wisconsin, Missouri or Maryland.

So basically, we fired Wisconsin. No foam cheese hats. No beer. No sausage shaped like beer. No Green Bay Packers! (Oh well. Go Bears.)

Worst year for jobs since ’45 [CNN]
(Photo: johnson_sebastian )

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.