Source: Economic Policy Institute

Meteor Blades puts this chart in context:

The current recession has now begun its 17th month. It’s already longer than any recession since the 1930s. If it were to end this month and the unemployment rate started dropping in line with the average timing of the two most recent recoveries, it would mean no relief for the jobless until Christmas 2011. And that would only mark the beginning of a drop in the unemployment rate.