United Press International (November 7, 2009)

Figures released Friday by the U.S. Labor Department showed more than one out of every six workers -- 17.5 percent -- were unemployed or underemployed in October, eclipsing the record-high total of 17.1 percent in December 1982 -- which were the worst figures since the Great Depression, The New York Times reported.

The broad figures included those who are officially unemployed -- set at 10.2 percent -- as well as "discouraged workers," or those who have looked in the past year and millions of part-time workers who would rather be working full time, the newspaper said.

The Labor Department figures indicate nearly 16 million Americans are unemployed and more than 7 million jobs have been lost since late 2007.

The Times said its analysis shows while a smaller share of today's workforce are officially unemployed than in the early 1980s, there are many more part-time workers seeking full-time work today. Their ranks have reportedly increased rapidly in the last two years.

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