When will white-collar jobs return? Try the end of next year

Being in a recession is a bad circle to be in, especially if you're out of a job.

Being jobless can feed on itself, leading to longer unemployment. And people without work don't have extra money to spend, thus hurting retail, service and other jobs that keep the economy rolling.

Prolonged unemployment among white-collar, higher-income professionals is only making the recession worse, as their job loss further slows the recovery in retail and housing, and keeps the economy mired in low or no growth, according to outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.