Why did unemployment jump in 2009?
James Williams
Updated on April 04, 2026
In 2009, strong growth in productivity allowed firms to lay off large numbers of workers while holding output relatively steady. Over the course of the year, unemployment rose rapidly, while GDP remained relatively flat, or near zero growth.
What was the jobless rate in 2009?
At the end of the recession, in June 2009, it was 9.5 percent. In the months after the recession, the unemployment rate peaked at 10.0 percent (in October 2009).
What happened to the job market in 2009?
Nearly 9 million American workers lost their jobs during the Great Recession. Unemployment in the U.S. peaked at 10 percent in late 2009. Unemployment is near its lowest level in 50 years.
How many people were jobless in 2009?
In November, both the number of unemployed persons, at 15.4 million, and the unemployment rate, at 10.0 percent, edged down. At the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons was 7.5 million, and the jobless rate was 4.9 percent.
Why was unemployment so high in 2010?
The state’s share of national jobs, which has been increasing since 2003, jumped in 2010 partly as a result of the state’s new tax credit. And trade volumes are increasing throughout California as both exports and imports are growing again as the nation’s trade with Asia is growing.
What is the March 2020 unemployment rate?
4.5
View Chart Data
| State | March 2020 unemployment rate | March 2021 unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| California | 4.5 | 8.3 |
| Colorado | 4.7 | 6.4 |
| Connecticut | 3.8 | 8.3 |
| Delaware | 4.8 | 6.5 |
What was the worst unemployment rate in UK?
Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom averaged 6.84 percent from 1971 until 2021, reaching an all time high of 11.90 percent in April of 1984 and a record low of 3.40 percent in December of 1973.
When do the January jobs numbers come out?
Survey data is typically from around the 12th of the month, so January numbers are counted before the new President takes office. For that reason, The Washington Post uses the February jobs level as the starting point.
How many jobs were created in the US in 2005?
As of 2005, the sample includes about 160,000 businesses and government agencies covering approximately 400,000 individual worksites. These monthly job counts are revised (sometimes by 20% or more) within 90 days to reflect additional data, seasonal adjustment models, and annual adjustments resulting from unemployment insurance filings.
How many job years is one job year?
The idea: One job for one year is one “job year.” If that job continues for another 12 months, it’s two “job years.”
Why is it important to look at job years?
Since the economy is likely to be operating below capacity for several years, job creation any time over the next several years is valuable. Thus, a second way to look at the employment effects of the program is to estimate the number of job-years the program will create over the President’s first term.
