ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The number of people applying for
unemployment benefits is up 29 percent from a year ago, but about
one-third are running out of their six months of benefits without
finding a new job.

Congress in July extended by 13 weeks unemployment benefits for
those who had exhausted their initial 26 weeks.

Leo Rosales, spokesman for the state Labor Department, says 56,000 people statewide used up their extended benefits without finding work. That is expected to rise to 90,000 by the end of the year.

The current financial downturn is causing many sectors to reconsider personnel needs, Jim Ross, a labor market analyst for the state, tells the Albany Times Union that one affected area is retail sales, where continued retrenchment is expected.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)