The U.S. Labor Dept just released the weekly initial jobless claims, and they rose far above expectations. In fact they rose by 51,000 to a seasonally adjusted figure of 454,000. One of the biggest notes from this is that this was the largest weekly increase since September 2005.

In the week prior, first time unemployment claims were at 403,000. Experts were expecting them to remain unchanged, but this latest report shows things are not as good as some had thought.

The Labor Dept blamed the increase on a number of things, but despite who or what you want to blame this on the numbers don’t lie… we are not gaining the jobs we need in this country. 9%+ unemployment and we know that is not the true number.

I want to see everyone have a good job that needs one, but where are they going to come from? Green jobs? I don’t think they can come up with 5 million of those to make a difference to families with no income right now. Manufacturing? That’s been lost and is not coming back. Real estate? Service business? I’m not trying to be negative, just looking at reality.

Let me ask you… do you believe things are getting better on the employment front? Where are all the millions of jobs that we need, just to get back at pre-recession levels, going to come from?