The unemployment rate remains about two percentage points higher than what most economists consider consistent with a full recovery, and the labor-force participation rate is hovering near historic lows. The economy is still operating far below its potential: GDP is about 6% below what the economy is capable of producing at full capacity without higher inflation.
2010年以来，GDP年增长率平均约为2.1%，这比过去60年以来经济萧条的平均复苏增长率的一半还要低。GDP增长缓慢意味着就业增长也缓慢。现在的失业率比经济学家认为符合全面复苏的水平高出2%，而劳动力参与率则徘徊在历史最低点附近。当前经济正在远低于其潜力的水平运行：GDP规模约比发挥全部潜能而不引起通胀的水平要小6%。