Job losses overshadow signs of recovery

Weak employment market likely to outlast pickup in spending


Paul Sancya / APPeople filling out out applications for positions at a new bar and restaurant in Detroit. Until job losses reverse, the recovery likely will be tepid.

John W. SchoenSenior producerProfileEmail
updated 3:26 p.m. ET, Thurs., Oct. 1, 2009
NEW YORK—

There were some hopeful signs among the blizzard of economic data released this week. But the recovery from the worst downturn in decades remains hostage to one of the ugliest numbers on the list: the unemployment rate.

"The hole that has been blown in the labor market is absolutely enormous,â€