US unemployment fell slightly, but what will it take to recover?

Even with last week’s decrease, the number of people applying for unemployment assistance still remains significantly higher than its peak during the Great Recession.

New claims for unemployment assistance in the United States fell slightly last week but remain stubbornly high, a signal that the US’s economic recovery remains stalled as lawmakers and the White House continue to debate the next round of coronavirus relief aid. But how does the US’s jobs situation now compare with the Great Recession of 2007-2008 and the height of COVID-19 lockdowns last March? And when will the US get back to its pre-pandemic employment rate? Here’s what you need to know.