I should also point out, that the graphic depicting a recent decreasing trend, is largely due to the global economic recession resulting from the sub-prime lending crisis, of which we are still struggling to substantially recover from. Jobs numbers state to state in the US have shown some bounce-back, but it will take significant changes in hiring & retention policy by medium & large businesses to truly recover. One thing that has been probably irreversibly affected (at least for now) is people who did not need to work ie sole breadwinner makes enough & secondary person is no longer participating in employment, older folks opting for early retirement, full timers switching to part time, things of that nature.
- Andy