How Many Jobs Did We Lose In 2008? As Many As If We'd Fired The Entire State of Wisconsin
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 )
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growing up in wisconsin, i can say that i love the state, but i'm also not a packer fan so i guess it would be nicer without all the green and gold next time i drive north over the border. and a lack of jobs would make for some awesome real estate prices as everyone heads for illinois, minnesota, or canada.
If this administration were an ice cream flavor, it would be ...... because ........
Go ahead!
Methinks someone has their work cut out if there's to be any hope of a rosy legacy in the history books.
Hey! Wisconsin has other things too! The Brewers just signed the all-time saves leader in Trevor Hoffman. We have snow. Tons and tons of snow. Our governor hasn't tried to sell a senate seat yet. We have Senator Russ Feingold, who voted against the stupid Patriot Act (and who voted against the bailout as well).
We have Harley-Davidson, Laverne and Shirley, and a statue of the Fonz!
What more could you want? :)
I'd rather you not fire everyone in Wisconsin, as then I'd have to move.
Besides, if we disappeared, who would fill your dairy aisle?
Well, it is Wisconsin. Would anyone miss it?
Everyone that I know either lost their jobs or are about to join the ranks of the unemployed in a couple of weeks... thank god i am able to live on ramen for 12 consecutive months...
The numbers fed to you by the Government are way off base.
Actual unemployment rate is about 18%, not the 7.2% the government wants us to believe.
What an odd comparison, since Forbes Magazine just named Madison, WI the best place in the US for job seekers.. [www.channel3000.com]
@citking: I <3 Hockey at UW! Actually, I love all of Madison- and if I could move my job there from Minneapolis I would.
@RodAox: My company let go of 30 people last month. We have about 200 or so people, so that was a pretty big chunk. I'm pretty nervous about my own job.
As someone looking for employment in Missouri, let me tell you, it feels like someone fired the entire state.
@QuantumRiff: Madison rules.
I'd give my firstborn for a Myles Teddywedger (washed down with a Cap City skål) right about now.
@citking: Not to get so many DWIs when I visit? (Driving While Illinoisian)
No, srsly Wisconsin, I love you! You're Illinois's nicest state park!
(And I've actually never gotten a ticket in Wisconsin, but I keep my cruise control set until I leave the state again.)
@QuantumRiff: I would bet that Wisconsin is at the bottom of the list of areas where jobs were lost, which would make it kind of ironic that it is used as the example.
Could be wrong, but I don't know anyone who's been laid off in the last year or so.
Thanks to the f*'ing republicans for 8 years of moronic mismanagement, a complete idiot in the white house, and providing big business with more than enough rope to hang themselves and us! What can anyone expect after that?
Green Bay Lovin' CheeseHeads. Fire 'em? I say we nuke 'em.
Most prophetic words ever uttered in an SNL skit:
"I broke the Hoover Dam"
So, if we move all the unemployed to Wisconsin, and sell it to Canada, we'll be back to 2007 levels of joblessness, right? Plus we might get some money for the state. The only downsides would be we'd lose our access to cheese. Also, any chance we can throw in Brett Favre, too?
@m4ximusprim3: If the California cows are happy I would expect the Wisconsin cows to be drunk off their asses - kind of like a big frat party in Madison.
My boyfriend is one of these 2.6 million people. He's been out of work since July. Someone please hire him. He's smart. He has a Master's Degree. He's cute!
@Eyebrows McGee: That's because you crazy Illinois folks act like you're driving a race car. We even know this up in Minnesota.
@am84:
There is NO reason he should be out of work since July. He could work at McDonalds temporarily until he finds something better. 75% of these people who are "unemplayed" dont have to be they just refuse to take a job that doesnt pay what they want to work for.
@Gorphlog: Not true. I know many people who were rejected for part-time or "lesser-skilled" jobs that they applied for - they were told they were overqualified. Temp agencies and part-time employers frequently say that "you won't stick around so I'd rather not take a chance on you."
It is rough out there.
From what I can tell, we actually fired the entire state of Michigan.
Why all the hate for wisconnie? Best state ever, doncha know.
@legwork: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frozen Yoghurt because it sounded like a good idea at the time but ended up being one giant clusterfuck. Now it looks like shit.
@downwithmonstercable: There's plenty of info out there. The figure used by the mainstream media & gov't IS optimistic. There are others, though, so it's more the fault of the media oversimplifying and/or currying favor with their precious Washington sources. Here's a primer if you're interested.
Deep fried cheese curds and beer. This automatically puts us in the top 15 of states.
As someone unemployed from Wisconsin, I just want to say that it's cool any time I see Wisconsin mentioned for anything... It's a great state with lots to offer. Yes we have high taxes (Gov. Jim Doyle might have sell his own a** one of these to bail us out...) and we have tons of snow, but we have great people, lots of interesting places and is a tourist mecca for a lot of people from all over - yeah, like the FIB's who love their Bears so much... Go Cheeseheads... it's not all about the Packers or any one thing - don't fire us - we're one of the 50 best states in this grand experiment!
Sorry, but maybe the lack of jobs will make customer service better and employers will actually fire employees who stink. People in Wisconsin are normally nice...but in Maryland? Name a person that is in "customer service" who can speak English and isn't rude. I'd like to say I'm exaggerating to make a point but not for Maryland. That MacDonald's job you guys were talking about? I love the attitude from the folks working the drive through who act like you're doing them a favor by eating their food.
More groundbreaking journalism from some second rate news org. What level of education does it take to compare the population of three states and see that its comparable to unemployment. I love all the left wing, socialist hatred of the midwest...are you just mad that your 200 sq. foot is infested by rats and that you 1/16th of a variety of ethnicities?
PS Brett Favre and the entire state of NY can burn in hell. Ryan duff is getting his stats from the Hugo Chavez.
I got laid off the beginning of September. While drawing my unemployment, I took a CNA class and passed it, during which I applied at the SVSMHI, which is a state job. On Dec 17 they called to offer me a job with great benefits and I was scheduled to start work on Jan 12. On Dec 18 they called me back to rescind the offer of employment because the Governor of my state had put a freeze on hiring and was cutting their budget as well as one whole wing. There have been no other local jobs in my new field and I am in a rural area so commuting long distance is out. Before my class there were tons of local CNA jobs which must have gotten snapped up fast. I am still drawing unemployment and have no idea when I will find work in my new field; maybe I need to go into fast food--I would have already, but they are no longer hiring, either.
The real security now is in government, medical, and even some financial fields around my area. I work for a County-owned EMS provider, and we're actually adding jobs. I also have 1 part time job in EMS and just got another part time gig at a hospital in the ER. Recession or not, people are going to pay their taxes and they're going to get sick.
Well I grew up in Michigan and our State is in sad shape and not getting better anytime soon, I am moving down south to find work and maybe get lucky, at least I will be with the snow!! Seriously tho, someone needs to take control other than our new President and get our country back on track quickly, it can't be that difficult to find the "money problems" that are affecting all of us? I am not any good at math, so I can' do it! LOL
@Ryan Duff: The last time I heard Michigan was the highest unemployed state in the US..I live here and I see so many people unemployed and the unemployment money that was suppose to be there, is gone, it was used for "other" purposes...so what happens to all the people who are drawing it right now? Dunno and it sux, a person without kids can't even get financial help from the state...again it sux to live in Michigan..We need to fire our horrible govenor and start over...
This article would be more hilarious if I didn't know someone in Maryland who lost her job. Still, sad state of affairs.