BOISE -- Unemployment drops nationwide, but keeps going up in Idaho.
The Idaho Department of Labor is forecasting a seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 9.1 percent for the month November -- that's up a tenth of a point from October, and the highest since May 1983.
Of Idaho's 44 counties, 20 have unemployment rates above 10 percent.
The number of Idaho workers without jobs hit another record -- 68,800.
But fewer workers are losing jobs. Year-to-year job loss in Idaho peaked at nearly 50,000 in August. Job loss between November 2008 and this November was 33,400.
The nationwide unemployment rate dropped from 10.2 percent to 10 percent last month. That's better news than experts had feared.
Today, President Obama visited Allentown, Pennsylvania -- to tour a metalworks plant that's hiring more workers.
"So today's report is another hopeful sign that these steps that we took, difficult steps, have helped turn the tide," said Obama.
But more than 15 million Americans still need jobs, and Republicans today said the uptick in employment is not cause for celebration.
"Especially when this Congress and this administration continued to pursue their job killing agenda," said Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, Minority Leader.
While Republicans say the Democrats' health care reform plan is a job killer, the president says it would mean families and businesses wouldn't have to deal with skyrocketing premiums year after year.
President Obama says he'll roll out a new job creation plan next week.
