...As of December 1982, a year and 11 months into the Presidency of Ronald Reagan,(the Patron Deity of Conservatism, Eternal Chairman of the GOP, Greatest President in the History of the Universe(tm), Slayer of Dragons, Atheists and Communism), Hallowed be His Name. While unemployment ran high during the Carter years, reaching a high of 7.8% in July 1st 1980, it began to decline as the end of Carter's presidency approached, falling to 7.5% just before the election on November 1st 1980,  and to 7.2 just after the election in December 1980. Under Carter, unemployment never reached above 7.8%, never going to the 9% high of Gerald Ford (as of May 1975).

In August 1981, however, unemployment began to take a sudden, rapid rise, going from 7.4% as of August 1st '81 to 9.8% as of August 1st '82, climbing to 10.8% in December '82, falling to reach it's current level (9.5%) in August '83. Unemployment wouldn't reach below 9.0% until October 1983 and wouldn't fall below 8.0% until February 1984, a full 3 years into Reagan's presidency.

Yes, blessed be St. Ronald, domini domini domini.

We're not at 10.8% yet, I should be surprised if we do, though it's not out of the question. 

Of course, that national average doesn't mean much if you're out in a place like Detroit, with 30%+ unemployment rates!
::)