Figure 1 shows the number of unemployed persons (in millions) by different durations of
unemployment. Prior to the recession, the number of individuals unemployed for 27 weeks and
over is relatively low and surpasses only those unemployed for 15 to 26 weeks. During and after
the recession, there is an especially sharp increase in long term unemployment and by June 2009,
the number of persons experiencing long-term unemployment exceeds numbers in every other
category. Today, persons unemployed for 27 weeks and over continue to significantly outnumber
their counterparts in each category.