In a recession, a decrease in consumer spending causes many businesses to lay off workers or even to close  Workers who lose their jobs in a recession usually cannot find new jobs  The result is an increase in the number of people who are jobless  Recovery from a recession is defined by an increase in consumer spending and an expansion of business activity that creates a need for additional workers
But businesspeople generally have little confidence in the economy after a recession and ttherefore delay hiring additional workers as long as possible
Sometimes recovery from a recession does not promptly result in a decrease in the number of people who are jobless.