National unemployment rate hits lowest level since 2008
Reporter: Cory Marshall
TUCSON( KGUN9-TV) - A Registered Nurse and an Air Force Veteran, Michael Beauparlant never thought he would find himself facing unemployment.
"I just want to find a job real quick because you know, three months is a longtime without working. I'm kind of anxious," Beauparlant said.
Counting the days, the longtime Tucson resident has been out of work since September.
"Just think about it, when the bills are coming in and the rent and just the basic essentials of everyday living that you need to pay for," Beauparlant continued.
Friday, the Labor Department announced that the national unemployment rate fell to it's lowest level since 2008 -- 7.7 percent. Currently, Arizona's jobless claims sit at a slightly higher 8.1 percent.
Charles Casey works at the Pima County One Stop. He says while the news is good, the outlook locally isn't the same.
"Hiring has been, it's there, but it's muted. It's not as strong as we would hope it to be," Casey said.
Still, unemployed mechanic Joe De La Cruz remains optimistic, "It's ups and downs. I've been here before so I roll with the punches. I'm not really worried that bad."
Holiday hiring is also helping with jobless claims. According to the Labor Department, retailers hired more workers in November than in any other month since 1939.
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