How will unemployment affect you as you vote? - Public Insight Network | St. Louis Beacon and the Nine Network of Public Media

How will unemployment affect you as you vote?

There's conflicting news regarding jobs and the unemployment rate. The good news is that employers are hiring workers. The bad news is that the hiring rate is at its lowest point in a year, and the unemployment rate rose in May, to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent. That's not a huge jump, but it is in the wrong direction.

The Beacon and Nine Network want to learn the impact of unemployment in the November elections. Please respond to the questions below.

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E-mail *

First Name *

Last Name *

Street Address

City

State or Province *

Postal Code *

Phone *

Have you or anyone close to you been unemployed at any point in the past four years?

Yes
No

Please select the option(s) that best describe your current status. Check all that apply.

I am employed.
I am currently employed but was unemployed for a period of time after December 2007.
I have been out of work for 6 months or less.
I have been out of work for 6 to 12 months.
I have been out of work for a year or longer.
I have a friend or relative who is unemployed.
Other

If you chose "other" or if you were unemployed for a period of time, please explain.

If you checked relative or friend, please tell us about them. With their permission, please include their contact information: email address or telephone number.

If you or someone close to you have been laid off, please tell us the company and the position in the company.

Where does unemployment rank among the issues that will be driving your decision-making in the November elections?

What do you recommend to our nation's leaders to solve the current employment struggles? Please be specific.

What, if anything, are you hearing from current elected officials and candidates that gives you hope that their plans will help add jobs? What are your biggest concerns?

What else should we know, or what else would you like to know about this subject? If you know of someone else we should contact, please tell us who, and give us a way to reach them (telephone number or email address).

If you have one, please share a photo of yourself, or one related to this topic. (No larger than 2 MB please.)

Please give us some details about this photo: names, date, location, and the story behind it.

May we publish your insights (and any uploaded files) and attribute them to you? A reporter, editor or producer will contact you to confirm. (Your comments may be edited for length or clarity.) *

Yes
No

So that we may understand a little more about your perspective, please answer the following questions. All responses are voluntary.

In what year were you born?

How old are you today?

What do you do for work/what is your occupation?

For whom do you work (who is your employer)? If you are a student, what school do you attend?

Which of these best describes your education level?

What is your race or ethnicity?

With which political party, if any, do you identify most closely?

Is you picked "other," please explain.

How did you receive this query form?

I received this form by direct email.
I saw this query on the Beacon website.
I saw this query on the Nine Network website.
I saw this query on Twitter.
I saw this query on Facebook.
This query was forwarded to me by a friend.
Other

If you picked other, please explain.

Feel free to share this with anyone you know who has insight to share about jobs and unemployment. Here's a link to make it easy: http://bit.ly/Jobs0612

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