Many Americans that have been hit hard by the economic crisis are eager to put 2009 behind them.

The year ended with the unemployment rate at 10 percent. A record 20 million people collected unemployment benefits during 2009.

The Federal Reserve predicted unemployment rates will stay above 9 percent through the end of 2010.

Such a slow place of hiring could force the Obama administration to spend as much as $70 billion this year to extend unemployment benefits.