| The Associated Press analyzed nine economic recoveries since the Great Depression that lasted at least three years. By most measures, the recovery from the Great Recession of 2007-2009 is the weakest. |
| It’s the second-worst for job growth as measured by the rise in the number of people working. When the recession officially ended in June 2009, 130.5 million Americans had nonfarm jobs. By July 2012 _ three years and one month later _ the number had risen to 133.2 million, an increase of 2.1 percent. |
| Here’s a look at job growth in the three years and one month after recessions ended: |
| Recession Percentage change in jobs three years, one month after recession ended |
| 1948-1949 +16 percent |
| 1953-1954 +8.4 percent |
| 1960-1961 +8.1 percent |
| 1969-1970 +10.8 percent |
| 1973-1975 +12.4 percent |
| 1981-1982 +11.1 percent |
| 1990-1991 +4.6 percent |
| 2001 +1.1 percent |
| 2007-2009 +2.1 percent |