In January, more than half of Americans were left without work.

In January 2009, the number of unemployed Americans increased by an average of 525 thousand people. That was reported by Reuters, referring to preliminary estimates by more than 80 economists interviewed by the agency.
In December 2008, the U.S. lost 524 thousand people, while a month earlier - 533 thousand. At the same time a week from 15 to 21 December, the number of people in the country, first applied for unemployment benefits rose to a record over the past 26 years the value and amounted to 586 thousand people.
On 5 February 2009 it became known that the number of applicants on labor exchange Americans refurbished 26-year-old record. Over the last week of January, the unemployment benefit from the state were asked to 626 thousand people, reported AFP.
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the U.S. economy entered into recession in December 2007 and is now experiencing a severe crisis in the past few decades. In the fourth quarter of 2008 U.S. GDP fell by 3.8 per cent, which is the highest level since 1982.
In Canada, in January of this year was reduced 129 thousand jobs, transmits AFP. The unemployment rate was 7.2 percent.