Introduction
The chart shows employment in the United States over time. The numbers are shown every three months. They are measured in thousands of people. The line goes up and down. This shows how jobs change when the economy changes.
Early Employment Patterns
At the start of the chart, employment stays within a small range. The changes are small and steady. This is normal. Jobs grow when business is strong. Jobs slow when growth is weak. During this time, the job market looks stable.
Periods of Decline
The chart also shows times when employment falls. These drops happen during slow economic periods. When businesses earn less, they may stop hiring or cut jobs. This causes employment to go down. These times can be hard for workers and families. Still, the chart shows that these drops do not last long.
Recovery and Growth
After each drop, employment starts to rise again. The rise happens slowly. It does not happen all at once. Over time, jobs return to earlier levels. In many cases, they go even higher. This shows that the job market can recover after hard times.
Long-Term Trend
When looking at the full chart, a clear pattern appears. Employment rises over time, even with some drops along the way. This means job losses are usually short-term. The job market adjusts instead of failing.
Why This Matters
This chart helps explain how jobs change over time. People often focus on job losses during downturns. The long-term data tells a bigger story. Jobs often return and grow again. This helps leaders, businesses, and workers plan better. It shows that economic shocks affect jobs, but they do not stop job growth forever.
Dataset
Data Sources
Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LEU0252882500Q
Notes and Methodology
The chart uses quarterly employment data from FRED. The data counts the number of employed people in the United States. No seasonal changes were made to the data. The full timeline is shown to highlight drops, recoveries, and long-term growth.