Workers Show Jobs Task Force Faces of Unemployed

Dozens of Minnesota's unemployed workers gathered outside of room 200 at the State Office Building on Monday morning to show the real the faces of unemployment. Armed with signs that stated how long they have been unemployed and whether or not they were still receiving unemployment insurance, the tone of the group was serious and urgent.

The focus of Monday's Job Task Force meeting focused on credit markets, bonding, and debt management. The task force did hear public testimony at the end of the day.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO and national AFL-CIO support a jobs plan that will offer the most opportunities to workers. Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson said, "We are calling on Congress and the Minnesota Legislature to restore a strong federal safety net AND to take steps to create good-paying, sustainable jobs throughout our state and our nation." To read more about the jobs plan that the AFL-CIO and Minnesota AFL-CIO support, click here.

While Minnesota's unemployment rate hovered at 7.6 percent in October, it is below the national average of 10.2 percent. Overall in the state, there were 7.7 unemployed workers for each job vacancy. The need for jobs is key to our state's economic recovery.

The budget forecast will be released Wednesday. Stay tuned to the Minnesota AFL-CIO website, blog and Twitter for updates.

You can take action to extend unemployment benefits by clicking here through a page sponsored by Working America.