Ben Bernanke reaffirmed today the fact that the recession will continue to lag in its rebound. He does not plan to raise government interest rates for a long while – at least six months. Bernanke is working towards decreasing the possibility for inflation by restricting government interest rates.

In the meanwhile, the percentage of long term unemployed – those who have been out of work for six months or more – has risen sharply. Today there are more than six million who find themselves in this predicament, and when President Obama’s proposal to maintain unemployment checks goes through Congress in April, the stakes of 2.7 million unemployed will be determined.  Particularly, middle aged women have suffered from this recession, especially those with limited or no education, as technology has taken their resources from them. Moreover, the rate at which new jobs have been created since the 1950′s has gradually decreased, and all the while it has taken longer for post-recession economies to return to pre-recession rates of hiring.

The diminishment of monies to small businesses has only furthered the hiring scare. Bernanke hinted that until the economy recovers, small businesses will not be granted the loans they need to expand and continue hiring.  Bottom line: there is still a long road ahead.