Unemployment, by definition, occurs after a person has lost their job and has been conducting an unsuccessful job search for a period of four weeks. Though companies continue to post jobs online, Business Week reported in 2011 that "More than 200 million people globally are out of work, a record high, as almost two-thirds of advanced economies and half of developing countries are experiencing a slowdown in employment growth." American employment has increased in the past years, although the jobless rate has slowed in 2012. Bls.gov reports that unemployment rates were lower in February 2012 than in February 2011 in 344 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 19 areas, and unchanged in 9 areas. Thirteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 12 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent.

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