Unlucky 13 Unemployment Quiz: Take It and Weep!

(*To take the following quiz, cover the answers at the bottom and see how “up” you are on the unemployment rate in all the states that represent the United States and the District of Columbia.”)

Questions:

1)      How many states saw their unemployment rates rise in February?

2)      The U.S. unemployment rate, released earlier this month, stood at 8.1% in February. That is the highest rate in how many years?

3)      What do economists predict the unemployment rate will be in March? (number)

4)      It is fairly well known that Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the nation. What % of unemployment is Michigan suffering?

5)      Even if the recession were to end by year’s end, economists are predicting what % of unemployment will have been hit by year’s end in the United States?

6)      The second-highest unemployment rate in the nation is 11%. What state has 11% unemployment rate, as of February?

7)      The coastal state of Oregon comes in third in its unemployment rate at what %?

8)      North Carolina is fourth highest on the rate, with an unemployment rate of 10.7%. That is the highest on records there since what year?

9)      California comes in fifth in unemployment at 10.5%. What other small state ties for 5^th place with California?

10)  The 7^th state with an unemployment rate above 10% (10.1%) is a state heavily dependent on tourism. Name it.

11)   How many people are currently drawing unemployment in the United States at the state level?

12)  This is the highest dating back to what year?

13)  The lowest unemployment rate—3.9%—belongs to what state?

Answers:

1)      49 states and the District of Columbia saw their unemployment rise in February.

2)      This is the highest rate in 25 years.

3)      Economists predict the rate will have climbed to 8.5% in March.

4)      Michigan has 12% unemployment, the highest in the country,

5)      By year’s end, even if the recession ends earlier in the year, economists predict that the unemployment rate will have risen to 10%.

6)      The second highest unemployment rate (11%) belongs to South Carolina.

7)      Oregon has the third-highest unemployment rate, 10.8%.

8)      North Carolina’s unemployment rate of 10.7% is the highest on records kept there since 1976.

9)      Tiny Rhode Island ties for 5^th place with California.

10)  Nevada comes in 7^th at 10.1%.

11)  5.56 million people are currently drawing unemployment (give yourself credit for 5 or 6).

12)  This is the highest number drawing unemployment dating back to 1967, according to reports by the Federal Government made on Thursday, March 26^th.

13)  Wyoming held its place as the state with the lowest unemployment rate (3.9%).

SCORING of the “Unlucky Thirteen” Unemployment Quiz:

If you got all 13 right, please make sure that the unemployment line you are standing in has not moved on without you while you took this quiz.

If you got 10 right, you are possibly Ben Bernanke.
If you got 8 right, you may be a former Secretary of the Treasury. (Paul O’Neill)

If you got 5 right, you are probably currently employed and too busy to read the newspaper.

If you got 3 right, you may be Dick Cheney (or a close relative.)

If you got 0 right, you are possibly someone who goes by a single initial: “W”.