Canada's jobless rate falls to 8.3 pct in January

Canada's unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent in January as 43,000 part-time jobs were added.

Statistics Canada said Friday it's the fourth employment gain in six months.

The unemployment slipped from 8.4 percent in December.

Jobless rate said likely to stay high through 2010

The Obama administration is predicting little improvement in the nation's unemployment rate by the end of the year.

Although President Barack Obama says the multitrillion-dollar spending plan released Monday is designed to get Americans back to work, the administration forecasts 9.8 percent unemployment at the end of this year. That would be down only slightly from the current rate of 10 percent.

Those predictions are in line forecasts from independent economists. The administration is predicting 8.9 percent unemployment at the end of 2011, and 7.9 unemployment percent by the end of 2012.

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Extended unemployment is complicated

I would appreciate it if you could explain how the extended unemployment benefits work.

I have been unemployed since April 2009. Benefits will end April 2010. I have read in The Herald that President Obama and Congress have extended the benefits for 99 weeks. I inquired at the unemployment office if I was eligible for extended benefits. I was told I was on extended benefits now.

I would assume that the first six months are regular and these last six months are the extension (26 weeks.)

Florida might reject stimulus cash for jobless

Florida is on the verge of forfeiting more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funds that could help 250,000 Floridians whose unemployment benefits are running out.

The problem: The federal offer for aid comes at a price that many in the state Legislature are unwilling to pay. To receive the money, the state would have to pass a new law widening the pool of people receiving extended unemployment benefits.

So far, no legislation has been introduced. The federal government would pick up most of the estimated $776 million cost of providing the extended benefits through December 2009.