After 2008, the unemployment rate increased dramatically. Long-term unemployment, measured by the percentage of the unemployed who were out of work for 27 weeks or longer, increased at the same time. By 2011, almost half of all unemployed workers were long-term unemployed. Although the unemployment rate dips slightly starting in late 2012, throughout 2013, both unemployment rates remained above their pre-crisis levels.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.