The recession would probably affect middle management roles first.  There's only so many "workers" you can lay off before you won't have anyone to do any work.  Top level management aren't going to get rid of themselves, so it's the people in the middle that generally suffer.

So a lot would also depend on your industry.  If you're just looking for a casual job at a supermarket or similar, I'd be a little surprised if there's a lot less now than before, as supermarkets are largely unaffected by these recessions (everyone needs food).  If it's a restaurant or electronics store, things might be different.