According to official definitions, the national recession ended last year. Even so, the country is still in the midst of the worst economic crisis in generations.
During this recession, the country experienced the greatest job losses since the Great Depression, and unemployment rates continue to be extremely high. California and Los Angeles county face even higher rates than the nation overall.
National trends show that what little job growth is occurring is concentrated in low-wage sectors, making already high levels of income inequality even worse.
An examination of Census data reveals persistent, structural problems in the Los Angeles-area economy that mirror this trend.
Without addressing the issue of working poverty, economic recovry for hte region will be difficult. By prioritizing the creation of good jobs, we can rebuild the shrinking middle class and ensure shared prosperity.