National Employment Rates Rises To 26-Year High, 9.7 Percent

MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 04: (L-R) Heidi Dominguez, Orlando Santana and Ismelia Santana, all unemployed, use the resources available to them to look for jobs at an employment help center at the West Dade One Stop Career Center on September 4, 2009 in Miami, Florida. The government reported that the unemployment rate jumped to a 26-year high of 9.7% from 9.4% in July. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)