In the month of May unemployment in the West toppled 10 percent for the first time as it reported an unemployment rate of 10.1 percent.

According to reports from the Labor Department, 48 states and the District of Columbia saw a deterioration in employment conditions.

The fallout from the longest recession since World War II, was the worst in Michigan as automakers cut tens of thousands of jobs. Its unemployment rate rose to 14.1 percent.

The last time any region had a rate of at least 10 percent was September 1983, when the country was emerging from a severe recession.

An increased number of companies are laying off workers in a bid to cut costs which has sent the economy’s jobless rate soaring.

Michigan Unemployment U.S.