With unemployment at more then 9 percent, the Labor Department is turning to the public for ideas to help people find jobs. Labor is offering up to $35,000 for an app that helps unemployed people find the right career path.

"Every day, software developers work to make complicated and diverse information accessible, and we want to give them an incentive to include government data in those efforts," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis in a release.

Labor launched a website that makes it easier for developers to access public data, such as the Occupational Employment Statistics.

Submissions will be accepted through Sept. 14 and the winner will be announced on Challenge.gov.