July unemployment

While the unemployment rate remained at 9.5%, total non-farm employment declined by 131,000 in July. The 71,000 new private sector jobs were more than off-set by the federal government ending 143,000 temporary census jobs. Details from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Contesting unemployment benefits

The New York Times has an interesting article on Talx ("talks") a new giant that handles an estimated 30% of unemployment claims contested by employers. Its not pretty.