Adding to the two scariest charts in economic history (see https://trueeconomics.blogspot.com/2020/04/1942020-two-scariest-charts-in-economic.html), a third chart, showing changes in the U.S. labor force participation rates during and following recessions:
The above clearly shows that 2008-2009 recession has been unique in the history of the U.S. economy not only in terms of the unprecedented duration of unemployment (link above), but also in terms of the scale of exits from the labor force. In fact, this was the first recession on record that resulted in post-recession recovery not reaching pre-recession high in terms of labor force participation rates.
