CRS – The Trend in Long-Term Unemployment and Characteristics of Workers Unemployed for Two Years or More, Gerald Mayer, Analyst in Labor Policy, March 24, 2014

“One of the characteristics of the recession that officially began in the United States in December 2007 and ended in June 2009 was the unprecedented rise in long-term unemployment. The longterm unemployed are often defined as workers who have been unemployed for more than six months. But, many unemployed workers have been looking for work for more than a year or for two years or more. As the national unemployment rate increased during and after the 2007-2009 recession, so did the unemployment rate for workers unemployed for more than 26 weeks. In April 2010, the unemployment rate for workers unemployed for more than 26 weeks reached 4.5%, which was the highest rate recorded since BLS began collecting data on long-term unemployment in 1948. As the national unemployment rate has fallen, so has the unemployment rate for persons unemployed for more than 26 weeks. From April 2010 to December 2013, the unemployment rate for persons looking for work for more than six months fell from 4.5% to 2.5%. During the months leading up to the 2007-2009 recession, the unemployment rate for persons unemployed for more than six months was less than 1.0%.”