The U.S. unemployment rate climbed from 8.8 to 9 percent in April, despite the addition of 244,000 jobs since the end of March, the U.S. Department of Labor recently reported.

The private sector led the growth surge, adding 268,000 new positions during the month. The public sector was less than impressive, as it lost 24,000 jobs, the report said.

According to CNN Money, employment growth has swelled since the start of January, with more than 768,000 new jobs. Yet, millions of Americans remain out of the labor force. As a result, a number of individuals don't have the finances and resources they need to stay current with their debts, falling behind on payments and causing damage to their credit score.

Although a consumer is unemployed, it does not mean he or she is out of options when it comes to improving credit. This is because many individuals have a poor credit score as a result of an inaccuracy or an unfair mark on their files.

Credit companies are obligated by federal law to report a person's account both fairly and accurately. If a creditor cannot verify the legitimacy of a negative mark, then the report holder may investigate and challenge the item. In some cases, with the help of a credit lawyer, individuals are able to remove these blemishes from their documents and receive a boost to their credit scores.