Looking at 1982, ’09 rates

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WASHINGTON – The last time unemployment climbed past 10 percent, “The A-Team” was one of the top 10 TV shows and Michael Jackson was about to release “Thriller.”

Here are some ways the work force has changed since September 1982.

WORKERS

110.7 million: Size of the work force in September 1982

154 million: Size of the work force in October 2009

THE “HE-CESSION”

10.7 percent: Adult male unemployment rate in October 2009

8.1 percent: Adult female unemployment rate in October 2009

27.6 percent: Teenage unemployment rate in October 2009

9.5 percent: Adult male unemployment rate in September 1982

8.4 percent: Adult female unemployment rate in September 1982

23.6 percent: Teenage unemployment rate in September 1982.

EDUCATION

15.5 percent: Unemployment rate in October 2009 for those without a high school diploma

11.2 percent: Rate for high school graduates

4.7 percent: Rate for college graduates

3 percent: Unemployment rate in March 1982 for college graduates (at the time, figure was reported once a year)

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