2.2 million jobs lost in 2008 so far. WOW

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When we asked msnbc.com readers to tell us how the economy was affecting their job situation, we heard from many people in already hard-hit fields such as housing or the automotive industry. But amid a widening financial crisis, we also received hundreds of stories from people working in other industries, ranging from banking to food service, who are becoming the latest casualties of the nation’s economic struggles. Some who responded to our latest Gut Check America call for stories told us that their commissions or tips have dropped sharply, while others said they are out of jobs they held for decades and are struggling to find new employment. Several readers told us that they had found new jobs but were having to make do with lower wages or less generous benefits. For some readers, the only way to stay afloat has been to dip into retirement accounts or other rainy-day funds. Their experiences reflect the national picture. Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed Americans has risen by 2.2 million as the economy has weakened, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many economists expect things to get worse before they get better.

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