North Dakota has either the lowest unemployment rate in the United States at 2.5%, or almost the lowest, placing third at 3.4%, depending on which figures you want to follow. The lower number isn't seasonally adjusted, as it is in the second figure from U.S. Department of Labor, a practice that other states follow.

Either way, there are a heck of a lot of people with jobs there, as I've seen first-hand on my visits to Fargo, where the sound of hammers pounding away seem to constantly fill the air as construction workers build apartments, townhomes and other places for people moving from small towns in North Dakota and elsewhere to fill the employment need and see the big city of Fargo.

With the national unemployment rate at 6.1%, chances are that you know someone who is jobless. And for someone without money coming in, getting help finding a job, or at least making it less stressful, is the best gift you can give.

As someone who is approaching six months since being laid off, I've learned a few things about what jobless people need. A lot of it is help that you can offer without spending a lot of money. Kind of like the coupons you made when you were a kid to give your parents as gifts -- washing the car, babysitting, making breakfast, the things you can't buy in a store.

So here's my list of Christmas gifts for the unemployed, from the goofy to the practical to the simply fun things to break up the monotony of the job hunt. Like getting socks from your grandma for Christmas, some of these ideas may be a bit too practical, so still consider trivial and fun gifts for the jobless people in your life. But for someone without a steady income, getting something practical that can help them in their job search is probably what they want.

News of layoffs is happening daily, with the latest being Citigroup announcing 53,000 more job cuts and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. saying it will lay off thousands more. They join the 10.1 million Americans already unemployed, a 6.5% unemployment rate. At least they're getting a little notice before Christmas arrives.

Even if they saw it coming, getting laid off is a jolt. It not only means losing an income, but can also be at least a temporary loss of self-esteem. I was laid off on June 27 at a newspaper in the San Francisco Bay Area -- a paper where I had been an editor for 13 years, so I know first-hand what it's like to lose a job. It was the first time in my career that I had been without work.

While the shock and sleepless nights ended after a few weeks, it took a little longer for the sick feeling in my gut to go away. It was the feeling and constant worry about how to pay the bills and ensure my family can stay afloat and in our home. Some days I still have those fears, although a few part-time jobs have helped ease my mind as I look for full-time work.

Can we ever really be 100% secure in our jobs? Of course not. Even the most stable companies are vulnerable to downturns in the economy or unanticipated problems like floods or fires. With the knowledge that you might someday be downsized or otherwise laid off, it makes sense to plan now for that possibility.

If you or your spouse lost a job, do you have enough in an emergency fund to carry you through? Sadly, most Americans would probably say no. But it's not too late to start on an emergency fund, even if you're only able to put $50 or $100 a month into it. I have a savings account that automatically takes money from my checking account each week. The money in that savings account is untouchable, except in the case of a dire emergency.

What expenses could you cut out of your lifestyle if your income was reduced? It's important to know what bills absolutely must be paid each month, versus what you're spending on unnecessary things. I regularly update my budget to reflect the minimum amount of income I need each month to pay the bills, versus what I actually spend each month. It's easy to see that I've got quite a few expenses each month that could be cut out of my budget if my income dropped.