The article discusses how the Great Recession affected the tri-state region (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) and New York City. Despite fears of a severe economic downturn, the region's recovery was not as bad as expected. The unemployment rate did rise above 9 percent in some areas, but the situation was not as dire as in previous recessions. The article looks at how employment was impacted during the recession and how the recovery is progressing, providing insights into future job growth prospects.