More than a 250,000 Floridians lost their jobs in December

[Imagevision]

TALLAHASSEE -- More than a 250,000 Floridians lost their jobs in December, and the state's unemployment rate now stands at 8.1 percent.

That is nearly a full percentage point higher than the national average.

Meanwhile, the state is scrambling to keep up with demand for unemployment benefits.

Countless laid off Floridians are complaining they can't get the help they need.

Some say they've called the state's hotline, only to be put on hold for hours.

They said it's going to get worse and it is...
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/1/23/unemployment_rate_rises_in_florida.html

[Warpy]

1. Florida got hammered first in the 1920s

when a real estate bubble there went bust. It's not terribly surprising that they're the canary in the coal mine this time, too.

[blue_onyx]

2. Actually, if any state was considered...

"the canary in the coal mine" I think it would be Michigan. We've been in recession for 8 years and had to listen to the MI GOP say we were in a one state recession. I knew it wasn't true and that poor economy would catch up with the rest of the country eventually....didn't think it would get this bad though.

[angrycarpenter]

3. I was one

It has been nearly seven weeks and unemployment is still holding my claim. I have just about given up on ever getting it, I guess that is the point all along.

Last time I talked to them it took me three days to get through. Their call system hangs up on you about 90% of the time, when it doesn't it takes 1-2 hours of holding just to talk to a person that says "just keep waiting someone will be in touch" what a joke.

I have been a carpenter since I was 19. The thought of a minimum wage McJob makes me want to puke but I cannot wait any longer.

[Imagevision]

4. This must be deemed a non-story by the M$M...?