RSS | Newsletters | Facebook CAP en Español
Center for American Progress Center for American Progress
Issues Economy Labor & Work

Labor Market Not Looking too Cheery, to Say the Least

It’s no secret that the United States is currently in a very painful recession and the worst “in post World War II history in terms of total job losses, the total number of unemployed workers, and the rapid pace of the contraction.” Home values have plummeted, GDP growth has turned negative, and the economy has shed jobs at an alarming rate. Feel like it is a tough job market out there? You’re not alone.

The United States has lost a staggering 5.1 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007. What’s more, nearly two-thirds of those losses–3.3 million–have taken place since just this past November. In March, the overall national unemployment rate hit its highest level in a quarter of a century–8.5 percent–up from 8.1 percent in February and from 4.4 percent in December 2007.

Read more here.

This article was originally published in Qvisory.

To speak with our experts on this topic, please contact:

Print: Katie Peters (economy, education, and health care)
202.741.6285 or kpeters1@americanprogress.org

Print: Christina DiPasquale (foreign policy and security, energy)
202.481.8181 or cdipasquale@americanprogress.org

Print: Laura Pereyra (ethnic media, immigration)
202.741.6258 or lpereyra@americanprogress.org

Radio: Anne Shoup
202.481.7146 or ashoup@americanprogress.org

TV: Lindsay Hamilton
202.483.2675 or lhamilton@americanprogress.org

Web: Andrea Peterson
202.481.8119 or apeterson@americanprogress.org

Subscribe to RSS Feeds

RSS IconSite-Wide and Issue-Specific RSS Feeds

Related Materials

Dormant Union Membership Is a Bad Sign for the Middle Class, by David Madland, Nick Bunker

Unions Make Democracy Work for the Middle Class, by David Madland, Nick Bunker

Not Out of the Woods Yet, by Desmond Brown

Hard Work Should Pay Off, by Heather Boushey

20 Ideas for Job Creation

Also by Amanda Logan

Leveling the Playing Field, September 23, 2009

States Will Drag on Economic Growth and Job Recovery, September 21, 2009

Less Spending on Gas and Cars Means More Money in the Bank—For Now, August 6, 2009