Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Recession and Recovery

Chad Stone Statement on April Jobs Report

“Today’s employment report shows that April’s job growth was disappointing for the second straight month and that the economic costs in terms of fewer jobs, less income, and lower growth remain very high. In particular, the number of workers in the Labor Department’s broadest measure of labor market underutilization — comprising the unemployed, discouraged workers and others 'marginally attached' to the labor force who nonetheless have indicated they want to work, and people working part-time for economic reasons — stands at roughly 23 million. That’s much higher than at the start of the recession or, before that, than any time for which we have available data, dating back to 1994.

“The March and April employment numbers seem to bear out fears that the pickup in job gains of January and February may have been boosted more by favorable weather conditions than by a fundamental strengthening of the economic recovery. Last week’s preliminary estimate that the economy grew at a modest 2.2 percent annual rate in the first quarter, together with expectations of continued slow growth this year, indicate that a robust jobs recovery remains elusive.” Read more

Related:

Chartbook: The Legacy of the Great Recession
Off the Charts Blog: Today’s Jobs Report in Pictures
Key Things to Know About Unemployment Insurance
Policy Basics: Unemployment Insurance

Topics

Basics

A recession is a significant decline in the size of the U.S. economy lasting more than a few months, normally visible in a variety of economic indicators. Economic stimulus policies aim to avert a recession or lessen its severity by boosting the economy in the short term. The unemployment insurance system helps people who have lost their jobs by temporarily replacing part of their wages, typically for up to 26 weeks.

Policy Basics:
- Introduction to Unemployment Insurance
- How Many Weeks of Unemployment Compensation Are Available?

Chart Book:
- The Legacy of the Great Recession

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The Center examines the impact of changes in the economy on federal and state budgets, as well as the likely effectiveness of economic stimulus proposals. We also examine trends in employment and promote reforms to strengthen the unemployment insurance system.