"The nation's employers continue to cut payrolls, with jobs down by 159,000 in September, the ninth consecutive month of job losses according to today's report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

"Unemployment was unchanged over the month, as an increase in the number of the jobless (up 101,000) was offset by a decline in the labor force (down 121,000). The underemployment rate, a more comprehensive measure of job-market slack, jumped to 11%, the highest level since in over 14 years. As of last month, one in nine persons is either unemployed or underemployed. 

"So far this year, payrolls are down 760,000 overall and 969,000 in the private sector (the latter loss began in December). Unemployment, at 6.1%, is up 1.4 points over the past year, while underemployment is up 2.6 points. Over the past year, the unemployment rolls have expanded by 2.2 million, to 9.5 million, the highest number of unemployed since December of 1992.

"While the overall unemployment rate was unchanged last month, African American unemployment rose from 10.6% to 11.4%, driven by an increase among black men from 11.2% in August to 12.9% in September (the rate for black men is more than twice that of white men (5.9%)). As is often the case in a recession, black joblessness is rising much more quickly than that of the overall workforce. Since June, black unemployment has jumped 2.2 percentage points, from 9.2% to 11.4%, compared to a 0.6 point increase in the overall rate. 

"Two serious problems in today's job market are 1.) the lack of job creation, along with increased layoffs, means that job seekers are stuck in unemployment and unable to find work, and 2.) over 6 million workers who have kept their jobs are unable to find their desired hours of work.

"In past downturns like this, Congress has a record of multiple interventions in unemployment compensation programs. Along with their vote on the Wall St. bailout, the House votes today on the expansion of EUC. If lawmakers truly want to balance their legitimate concerns for improving credit markets with those of working families struggling to deal with long-term joblessness, it would be unconscionable for them to leave town without passing this expansion."

Sorry, it didn't happen; Congress only cared about Wall Street that lines their campaign pockets.  They talk about Main Street and do nothing  but kowtow to Wall Street.

As ProPublica reports: "While Congress managed to pass a $700 billion financial-industry bailout before breaking for over a month to campaign, legislation to extendunemployment aid for 800,000 laid-off workers did not make the cut. Their benefits will dry up as soon as this Sunday.

"Negotiations late yesterday in the Senate for streamlined passage of a bill to extend emergency jobless relief by at least seven weeks failed when Republicans balked. By evening, most senators had left town on election recess. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said the Senate would reconvene the week of Nov. 17.

"After approving the bailout today, the House overwhelmingly passed (368-28) a jobless benefits extension essentially identical to the Senate version on an accelerated vote. Speaking on the floor in support of the bill, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) said he regretted that it was "a little bit late," but "I only hope the Senate is listening."

"The quick passage could provide momentum for an extension in a lame-duck Senate. Had the House reverted to lengthier deliberations, to be taken up after the elections, the fate of federal unemployment aid would certainly be shakier, Democratic congressional aides told ProPublica.

"A spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Don Stewart, said Republicans had refused an emergency vote on a benefits bill because Democrats gave no chance for debate or amendment. "It's a huge spending bill," he said. The proposal has been estimated to cost $6 billion.

"The Senate bill had previously been considered and rejected by Republicans as part of a larger economic stimulus package. Sen. Reid's office told ProPublica that he had tried to attach the unemployment aid extension to the financial bailout passed by the Senate Wednesday night. But Stewart said no formal unemployment insurance amendment had been proposed.

"He said Republicans disagreed over the duration of any federal unemployment aid and how much should be given to each state. Asked for details of a formula Sen. McConnell or any party member could live with, Stewart provided none. He said that, because the Senate is on break until mid-November, "there is no action to be had until that point."

"Today's monthly unemployment update from the federal government showed the U.S. economy had shed jobs for the ninth straight month in September, with 760,000 jobs lost throughout the private sector in 2008.  The rate of unemployment remained constant at 6.1 percent, or 9.5 million people."