What can a recession lead to in terms of the job market?

A recession typically leads to higher rates of unemployment because economic activity slows down, resulting in decreased demand for goods and services. When businesses experience a decline in sales and revenue, they often respond by reducing their workforce to cut costs. This can manifest as layoffs, hiring freezes, or even the complete shutdown of companies, which contributes to an overall increase in the unemployment rate.

The other options represent outcomes that are generally opposite to what occurs during a recession. For instance, increased job opportunities and higher employment rates are typically associated with economic growth, not a recession. Similarly, an acceleration of economic growth is not a characteristic of a recession, as recessions are defined by economic contraction rather than expansion.