It also means that weak companies (often the small "mom-and-pops") will dry up and fold which means more market share for the bigger companies - the ones who make up the DJIA.
The Dow has, as long as I've lived, been a poor barometer for the strength of the employment market. It is a barometer for the strength of macro-industries.
Of course, the big businesses are hurting too but they figure they'll survive and eventually have a chance to win a bigger share of the pie, even if the pie is smaller. That's why investors are returning to the market - they see the opportunity in a crisis, just like the White House does.
Unfortunately that only happened here. There's still way too much fat in American companies.
Rule #1: MBAs take care of their own.
While many productive low to mid salary range people have been laid off, very few of the 6 figure do nothing positions like Human Resources managers, Directors of Communications, Vice Presidents of Global Support Services, Vice Presidents of Community Affairs, Vice Presidents of Consulting Services, etc., etc. have been let go.