The Daily Score

Email Post

Googling the Unemployment Rate

Posted by Eric de Place

05/14/2009 10:30 AM

A lovely comparison of state trends.

I once said that if I had to marry a search engine, I would be willing to make a commitment to Google. For some reason, people thought I was speaking hyperbolically, but I was not. (Sorry, Jill.)

If that sounds crazy, consider:

google unemployment

Behold, Google's display of state-level trends in unemployment! (Go play with it; it's fun.)

I know, I know, it's no big thing. Google has all kinds of stuff like this and the data are derived from some other source. (From the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in this case.) But that's what kills me: it's so clear and easy-to-use and, well, beautiful. I love it.

And holy cow, is Oregon's employment situation ugly.

H/t to my BlueOregon

Permalink

Comments

Posted by eldan 05/14/2009 01:39 PM

Do you have any insight about why Oregon is suffering such a particularly big rise in unemployment?

Posted by Martin Mehalchin 05/14/2009 05:47 PM

How do you access the general "public data" functionality on Google (not the specific chart you posted)?

Posted by Matt Moore 05/14/2009 11:31 PM

Aivea is one of the few companies hiring and doing mostly (~85%) of the business outside the state.

Posted by or_anon 06/02/2009 03:25 PM

Well, in OR, timber industry is wayyyy down, high tech is down, tourism is down, fishing is down. And still, Californians keep moving here and hope to find a job.

Posted by Michelle 06/05/2009 10:17 AM

Hey Eric, some friendly advice:

You should probably think twice about marrying Google. It just isn't the settling-down type. Before you even say "I do," it'll be off searching for someone else...

:-)

Posted by Eric Hess 06/05/2009 11:01 AM

Since when did our commenters become amateur stand-up comics?

Keep it coming!