Minnesota Unemployment Rate One of the Worst in the Country

Several new maps released by The New York Times and the Washington Post bring the harsh realities of unemployment and incarceration rates across the country to light. Especially affected is the state of Minnesota. Minnesota has a 7.6 percent unemployment rate.

The map, released by The New York Times, shows every state and divides them up so that the unemployment rate is measured by counties. Dark bands of orange split the state, showing that Minnesota has one of the worst jobless rates in the country. According to The Minnesota Independent, Clearwater County has 16.2 percent unemployment, which is double the national average. The national average rose to 8.1 percent in February. Other high-unemployment counties include numbers like 14.2, 12.3 and 11.6.

The second map, released by the Washington Post, proclaims Minnesota among the top fifth of the states in per capita incarceration rates. According to The Pew Center on the States, nationally, one out of every 31 adults is under "correctional control", but Minnesota's figure is one in 26.

As if to add insult to injury, according to news site WCCO.com, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced that the state's Unemployment Insurance claim filing system is down as of this afternoon. The delay leaves unemployed Minnesotans waiting to have to apply for much needed benefits or to get details about their claim.

Looking at the unemployment map, appropriately titled "The Geography of a Recession," puts things into perspective. The spectrum of orange colored states, fluctuating from pale orange to an ominous brown (symbolizing over 15 percent), is really quite horrifying when you can move your curser and see the percentage of joblessness in every single county. It's especially worse when you put a face to the state.

A friend of mine moved to Oregon in pursuit of better things and the majority of that state is now 13 percent and under. Only last night, I talked with some newlywed friends who had recently moved to Minnesota. One of them has a bachelor's degree and a masters degree and can't even get hired at Target. Other red zones on the map include California, Alaska, Michigan, assorted areas in the south and Washington.

One thing's for sure: the recession definitely hits home when you have a multi-colored map in front of you proclaiming who among us is suffering the most.

Paul Schmelzer, Minnesota in Orange and Blue: Unemployment and Corrections Population Up, The Minnesota Independent.

Minn. Unemployment Insurance System Down, WCCO.com

The Geography of a Recession, The New York Times

Population in Corrections Systems, The Washington Post