[Coop]

Traditionally, unemployment does not lag two years into a recovery.

Traditionally terrorists don't slam airliners into massive office and DoD buildings, thereby severely harming our nation's infrastructure and sense of security, thereby leading to two large, separate military conflicts and a whole slew of increased security measures and associated costs. Yet the economy, while sputtering, has absolutely amazed me with its ability to withstand such devastation.

The recovery started seemed to start in late Spring/early Summer 2003.

[ex-snook]

Quite a stretch to blame the 'employment lag' indicator on 9/11. Since 9/11 we added plenty of government payments and jobs into the economy. From Homeland Security, military production contracts, armed forces buildup, nation building, etc. Employment has been 'lagging' well before 9/11.