This is not true at all the unemplyment rate in the USA ranged rom 8.6% to 10.8 percent in 1982.

source link : http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/data/UNRATE.txt

data Source:U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics

joseph, canterbury, kent

"The suggestion that 2.5m unemployed in the US now is the same as 2.5m unemployed in 1945 (when the country's population was approximately half of what it is today) is frankly insulting.

Philip Sharman, Kettering, England"

2.5 m is the number of people who lost a job, not the total out of work

paulcooke, Gloucester,

Um, over half a million people lost their jobs. Those of you saying that relative to the population in 1945 and now are missing the point. Over half a million people have lost their jobs. 2 million in the last 4 months. It won't take long for this to be WORSE than 1945.

Alex B, Chicago, USA

Not wishing to suggest that the situation is not very bad, I believe the headline is slightly misleading because the population of the US was much lower in 1945, and the actual rate of unemployment has more recently been a lot higher than it is now.

Lee, Columbus, OH, USA

So what is it - worst year since 1945 or 1993?

I know which of the two makes the most striking headline.

The suggestion that 2.5m unemployed in the US now is the same as 2.5m unemployed in 1945 (when the country's population was approximately half of what it is today) is frankly insulting.

Philip Sharman, Kettering, England

I agree - it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Heaven forbid teh US might lead the global economic recovery!!

paul, Glasgow, UK

What is misleading about official unemployment numbers? The numbers should in fact be higher if you take into consideration discouraged workers.

Adrian, London, UK

It's headlines like this that mislead the public.

Michelle, Phoenix, USA