Although Iowa has reached its highest unemployment rate in 17 years, its current rate is at 4.9 percent. Iowa's workforce dropped by 22,000; however, their rates are almost half that of the national average. Government Chet Culver pulled an Obama move and launched Recover.Iowa.gov; "This website is one tool to help Iowans learn about the benefit of this important program -- $1.9 billion from the Obama Recovery plan -- track the work underway to make the best use of these funds, and provide accountability and transparency about this important effort," said Culver.
Nebraska's unemployment rate dropped from 4.3 percent to 4.2 percent in February. Conclusively, the only state that had a drop in unemployment in February. Nebraska comprises one of 3 rural states that "had the fastest-rising wages for tech jobs."
North Dakota's state employment agency research analyst, Michael Ziesch states, "We've got plenty of jobs." USA Today reports that the state online job database posts 10,000 job vacancies. North Dakota's unemployment rate is at 4.3 percent. And it appears that many out-of-state job seekers are swarming the database, thinking out of the box, as I advised on last night's vlog.
Correction: I meant to say, 'Last thing you want to do is go to sleep on a full stomach;' I said, 'empty stomach' which caused me to have a nightmare where I was Phineas and Ferb ;)
Currently, 4,470 in Sioux Falls are out of a job; however, South Dakota makes the cut at 4.6 percent unemployment rate for the whole state. The South Dakota Department of Labor is now providing "customized employment and training" programs, funded by the additional stimulus funding.
Wyoming is also toted with paying the "fastest-rising wages for tech jobs," according to Businessweek. Wyoming is almost at full employment with a 3.9 percent unemployment rate. Senior citizens in Wyoming are holding back on retirement or taking part-time jobs. Nonetheless, high energy prices have helped Wyoming direct revenues towards reconstructing school infrastructure statewide. "Those projects have stretched into 2009 helping to keep people and their paychecks together. The surplus also safeguarded government positions, which make up 25 percent of Wyoming jobs," reports 9news.com.
For updates on the unemployment crisis, hit me on Twitter or find me on Lachamba.com to find ways around it.