May 13--The latest jobless figures paint a bleak picture for Frederick County.

The unemployment rate in the area was 5.1 percent in March. That's up from 2.7 percent in March 2008 and 2.6 percent in March 2007.

Frederick County's figures, reported by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, includes Montgomery County as a "metropolitan area." The figures show the jobless rate at 5.2 percent for February and 4.8 percent for January for Frederick County.

In comparison, the area encompassing Washington County and Martinsburg, W.Va., had a 9.9 percent unemployment rate in March, up from 4.9 percent in March 2008.

National figures, which are always a month ahead of the state numbers, show the U.S. unemployment rate at 8.9 percent, the highest in more than 25 years, according to the Labor Department.

The situation is compounded by the fact that fewer jobs are available. Even those still on the job are facing pay cuts, furlough days and other cutbacks, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. About 14 million Americans are without jobs.

The Labor Department said five workers are competing, on average, for the same job, compared to two applicants a year ago. The department said many discouraged jobless Americans have simply stopped looking for work.

Jobless workers will get some help, however, including an extra 13 weeks of emergency unemployment compensation added to the former 20 weeks. That became effective April 12 in Maryland. The state also enacted a bill that will allow part-time workers to apply for benefits. About 15 percent of Marylanders work part-time, according to the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Need help?

What do you do if you lose your job? You can go online or call Maryland DLLR. You will need your Social Security number, a telephone number where you can be reached, full information on any dependents under age 16, proof of alien status if not a U.S. citizen, business name, address and dates of employment at all employers within the past 18 months and copy of W-2 forms if possible; if a member of a union, state the hiring hall number and, if you served in the military within the last 18 months, your DD214 form.

The DLLR website states that with the overwhelming number of unemployment insurance claimants, getting through can take longer than normal.

"Due to a very high volume of claims, delays may be experienced in reaching our claims center operators," the website states.

You cannot file online if you have worked or earned wages from a state other than Maryland in the past 18 months, even if you live in Maryland; if you worked for the government in the past 18 months; if you have worked for more than three employers in the past 18 months; or if you have filed for unemployment in another state in the past 18 months.

A good resource is the Frederick County Workforce Services, which can provide job searches, help in preparing for an interview, some basic training in computers and other assistance.

-----

To see more of the Frederick News-Post or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fredericknewspost.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Frederick News-Post, Md.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.