Wow! Changing the color of individual counties from light to dark, month by month, this graphic actively displays how the U.S. moved from a 4.6% unemployment rate during January 2007 to 9.7% during May, 2010. In 30 seconds it tells more than pages of analysis.

The Economic Lesson

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a civilian noninstitutional labor force of 154.4 million people, 9.7% represents 14.97 million individuals. More specifically, the unemployment rate for men over 16 years old is 10.5%. For women over 16 years old, it is 8.3%.