Notwithstanding recent national job growth, most states still have fewer jobs than when the recession started in March 2001. In fact, most states have not seen strong enough job growth to make a significant dent in their weakened job markets.

Over three years after the start of the recession, and 29 months into the official economic recovery, most states still have not recovered the jobs they lost. Thirty-five states have fewer jobs than when the recession started, and the shortfall is widespread, from Michigan (-206,100 jobs) to Washington (-21,300), and from Arkansas (-13,000) to Maine (-2,400).

Simply looking at the number of jobs, however, understates the severity of the shortfall. In 49 states jobs have failed to keep up with growth in the working-age population since the recession started. Even since the recession ended—during what is supposed to be a recovery—46 states have lost ground relative to working-age population growth. Unemployment rates, which are higher in 42 states than when the recession began, offer another glimpse into state-level labor market pain.

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