A RECESSION WITH HISTORICALLY HIGH EMPLOYMENT:

Jobless rate holds, many quit looking (Ann Belser, 11/06/10, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

That brings the labor force participation rate, those people 16 years old and over who are either working or looking for jobs, down to 64.5 percent, the lowest it has been since 1984.

Before the 2001 recession, the labor force participation rate hovered around 67 percent, dropping to 66 percent through much of the decade.