Gallup: US unemployment worsens
A Gallup survey indicates that employment rate in the United States is not rising, thus damping hopes that the country's high levels of unemployment will reduce anytime soon. The influential private organization's survey shows the unemployment rate rose to 10 percent in mid February from 9.8 percent at the end of January, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. The rise in the under-employment rate was largely the result of a sharp increase in the number of people working part-time but seeking full-time employment, the study found. The US unemployment rate stands near last year's level of 19.8 percent. Dennis Jacobe, chief economist at Gallup, said the surge in under-employment is "troubling," as current conditions in the job market have barely improved compared to how they were this time a year ago.