CNBC QUIZ: Back to Work

Quiz: Back to Work

Across the country, people are struggling with stubbornly high unemployment and dismal job growth. Benefits for the long-term unemployed are running out and many businesses are cautious about hiring. Yet, Bureau of Labor Statistics data show the employment outlook is improving for most workers, and on the verge of taking a turn for the better. Employed or unemployed, take our quiz to see where the job market currently stands.

Posted 15 August 2011

Which metropolitan city had the highest unemployment rate in May 2011?

1. Yuma, Ariz.
2. El Centro, Calif.
3. Lincoln, Neb.
4. Flint, Mich.

Correct: Yuma's unemployment rate is at 27.9 percent. Bismarck, N.D., registered the lowest unemployment rate, 2.9 percent.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

What city has the largest decline in unemployment in the one - year period ending in May 2011?

1. Miami, Fla.
2. Reno, Nev.
3. Boston, Mass.
4. Rockford, Ill.

Rockford, Illinois. The rate fell from 14.2 percent in May 2010 to 10.7 percent in May 2011.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

How many US jobs have been lost in The Great Recession?

1. 6.5 million
2. 8.5 million
3. 12.5 million
4. 18 million

Almost 8.5 million jobs were lost between December 2007 and June 2009. The unemployment rate has hovered between 9 and 10 percent for nearly two years.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

What state has the highest minimum wage?

1. Washington
2. New York
3. Chicago
4. Oregon

Washington has the highest state minimum wage at $8.67, beating Oregon by 17 cents . Under federal minimum wage law, states may permit employers to pay a lower hourly rate, sometimes referred to as a subminimum wage, based on certain factors.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

The federal-state unemployment compensation (UC) program was created as part of what act in 1935?

1. Social Security Act
2. Unemployment Act
3. Right-to-work law
4. National Labor Relations Act

Social Security Act of 1935. The act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of his New Deal and provided benefits to retirees and the unemployed.

Source: SSA.GOV

What industry had the highest proportion of workers with hourly wages at or below the Federal minimum wage?

1. Journalism
2. Mining
3. Recruiting
4. Hospitality

The hospitality industry has a rate of 23 percent. Nearly one-half of all workers are paid at or below the federal minimum wage were employed in this industry, primarily in restaurants and other food service occupations.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Which industry experienced the largest number of mass layoffs in June 2011?

1. Information technology
2. Elementary and secondary schools
3. Social advocacy
4. Utility Vehicle manufacturing

Elementary and secondary schools accounted for 31,849 mass lay-offs.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

What state has the highest number of clean economy jobs?

1. California
2. New York
3. Alaska
4. Oregon

California has the highest number of clean jobs with 318,156 - or 2.1 percent of all jobs.

Source: Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings and Battelle's Technology Partnership Practice, Bay Area Climate Collaborative

What was the average payment for unemployment benefits in the third quarter of 2010?

1. $193
2. $250
3. $295
4. $364

The average benefit was $295.

Source: Department of Labor

What portion of the U.S. population had the lowest employment rate as of June 2011?

1. 25-34 years
2. 35-44 years
3. 45-54 years
4. 55 years and over

The 25-to-34-year-old bracket with a jobless rate of 9.6 percent.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Your score:

• If you answered 9-10 correctly, you are an expert on everything financial.
• If you answered 5-8 correctly, you know where to look for jobs.
• If you answered 0-4 correctly, you need to start reading CNBC.com.