Jobless rate jumps to 5-year high of 6.1 percent

How does our current national unemployment rate of 6.1% compare with 1982?

Here is the comparison:

By December 1982 the national unemployment rate was 10.8% which is 4.7% more than our current national unemployment rate.

As I have stated before the "real" unemployment rate is probably 2 or 3% more than what is reported since individuals who have exhausted their unemployment benefits or have quit looking for a job are no longer counted. From a government statistical standpoint only those workers who are actively looking for work and are currently receiving unemployment benefits are counted as being unemployed.