US unemployment figures don't count "discouraged workers" who have been out of the workforce for six months or more. That could explain why the figure for SEMs is so high.

The self-employment bit doesn't surprise me, either. An independent worker can do SEO pretty effectively.

I would have assumed the rate would have been much lower. I've heard that it's always best to spend money on marketing in a recession. Online marketing is only growing, so I'm surprised so many SEOs are out of work.

I wonder if the self employed number will grow even larger if this continues. Many companies thinking of hiring a SEO or SEM person might consider outsourcing just to save on costs.

Skewed sample. Those responding to your poll have more time. I would say those who are employed by nature have less time to read blogs and respond to such polls.

Also, how does someone classify themselves as being in the industry? I have an open position and get tons of resumes from people who want to be in the SEO industry, but none of them have ANY experience - not with a firm, not their own sites, etc. The only thing they seem to have is desire for a job. Does that make them people in the SEO industry? If so, your number could indeed be much higher. I'd put a qualification here as people with some level of experience and skillset already. In other words, what percentage of "employable" SEO people are out of work? That may be totally different that "what percentage of people who would like to have a job in the SEO industry don't have one?"