The official unemployment rate is 10.2%, the highest since 1983. This doesn't include part-time workers or those still hunting for a job.
In Oklahoma the unemployment rate is 6.8%, in Tulsa it's 6.8%, according to Karen Baskerville of Workforce Oklahoma.
While many struggle to seek employment, the government is pitching in.
Thousands of unemployed Oklahoma workers who have exhausted their benefits could be eligible for extended financial assistance under the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, a law that went into effect November 8, 2009.
This law allows people to file up to 20 weeks of additional benefits.
"I've been able to draw unemployment, but it's kind of hard to survive," job seeker Dalan Underwood said.
However, not everyone who is unemployed is considered eligible. You could be denied assistance for these reasons:
- were discharged or fired for misconduct
- voluntarily quit without good cause
- are not able and available for work
- are not a U. S. citizen and not authorized to work
- have limited the wages, hours, days, or areas of a job you would accept
- do not report for or satisfactorily participate in reemployment services
- are self employed
- are involved in a strike
- are not looking for work
- refuse suitable work
"I was fired and they told me I wasn't qualified," an anonymous job seeker told Fox 23. "It's been very hard, my husband is the only one working and I have two kids and I'm not able to find anything."
