Nearly four years into an economic expansion, job growth is still substantially slower than in previous recoveries.

Despite all the good news, employment continues to climb much more slowly than in previous recoveries.

In the 27 months since, the American economy has grown at less than half the pace of the three previous recoveries during an equivalent period.

But the number of those returning jobs may be more limited than in previous recoveries.

Still, in previous recoveries, the number of hours worked was both higher and faster-growing that it is now.

During the previous economic recovery, between 1995 and 1997, the county, which is the heart of Silicon Valley, added more than 82,800 jobs.

By comparison, the growth rate averaged 5.7 percent in the opening two years of the previous eight recoveries.

Second, American industry has much less spare capacity than at the start of previous recoveries.

But 3 percent is only half the pace enjoyed in the early months of previous postwar recoveries.

Personal incomes in the last two years have grown at less than half the rate of previous recoveries, the Government said.