CLARKONOMICS: The national unemployment rate has risen to 9.5% from 9.4%, a move that's actually considered to be good news since the jump is less than expected!

One factor that has been tough is lengthier unemployment. One-third of those who are laid off have been unemployed for half a year or longer, according to one report.

So often when we can't find a job, it's natural to think, "What's wrong with me?" This statistic about serial unemployment could be a positive; it lets us know that there's nothing wrong with us as individuals. We're just caught in a bad economic cycle.

For too long, our economy defied the natural cycles of ups and downs with too many false positives. There was a flood of foreign money that propped things up and created extra cheap borrowing conditions. That allowed companies to borrow on the cheap and overbuild.

So as a result, we'll have to go through a period where it will be harder to find jobs. We have to get the fundamental health of the economy back on track and that will take some time.

Meanwhile, the average wage that people make is going nowhere. Historically, wages rise a few points each year and generally stay ahead of inflation. But right now they're flat. That means you might have to tighten your belt even if you're employed. In addition, your hours may be reduced.

And when will this all be over? The whole cycle is a long term play into 2020, Clark believes. We could have some good cycles over the next decade, but the true rehabilitation will take that long.