UNEMPLOYMENT TAX UP 34% IN 2010

According to estimates from the U.S. Department of Labor, Unemployment Insurance (UI) rates across all 50 states increased an average of 34% as a percent of total wages from 2009 to 2010. States with the largest increases from 2009 to 2010 included Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska and Texas. According to UWC, this increase is the beginning of a trend that will push most state UI contribution rates even higher in 2011 and 2012. States borrowing federal funds to pay unemployment compensation risk the highest increases. The data can be found at http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/avg_employ.asp