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COVID & Unemployment

What you need to know about the job market during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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COVID & Unemployment

Many are still waiting for unemployment, months later

by Samantha Fields
Sep 25, 2020
For many of those who have now gone months without a paycheck or unemployment, things are dire.
Hundreds of people waited in long lines in Kentucky in June for help with their unemployment claims, months after they had initially tried to file.
John Sommers II/Getty Images
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COVID & Unemployment

Slow labor market recovery continues with unemployment claims at 870,000

by Associated Press
Sep 24, 2020
Jobless claims have held steady at just over 800,000 in recent weeks.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images
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COVID & Unemployment

California's unemployment system has serious issues. It's not alone.

by Mitchell Hartman
Sep 21, 2020
Antiquated software and a glitchy ID-verification system are among the issues that prompted the state to stop accepting new applications for two weeks.
A woman enters the Employment Development Department building in Los Angeles. The state is putting a pause on processing new unemployment applications for two weeks.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
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COVID & Unemployment

There are big variations in the state-by-state unemployment picture

by Mitchell Hartman
Sep 21, 2020
States that rely heavily on the in-person service sector are still facing high unemployment, while farm states are seeing lower jobless rates.
States that rely heavily on face-to-face service jobs, like New York, have the highest unemployment.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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COVID & Unemployment

COVID-19 danger is continuing to drive job losses in the U.S.

by Associated Press
Sep 17, 2020
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to 860,000.
The Labor Department said Thursday that 12.6 million are collecting traditional unemployment benefits, compared with 1.7 million a year ago.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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COVID & Unemployment

For some, it may make more sense at this moment to quit a job

by Erika Beras
Sep 16, 2020
Some people may not feel their workplace is safe. Others may need to provide child care for their families.
Some people are quitting jobs because it's too dangerous to work during the pandemic.
Al Bello/Getty Images
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COVID & Unemployment

With more people falling below the poverty line, a look at what benefits they might receive

by Mitchell Hartman
Sep 15, 2020
High unemployment and reduced income for many during the pandemic may make more people eligible for federal aid programs.
The poverty threshold, just over $26,000 a year for a family of four, is used to allocate more than a trillion dollars in government payments.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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COVID & Unemployment

Trump's Lost Wages Assistance money isn't enough for many unemployed

by Mitchell Hartman
Sep 11, 2020
As Congress battles over how to help those who are out of work in the pandemic, FEMA funds to replace federal pandemic checks are already running out.
A protester holds a sign calling for a fix to unemployment benefits at a protest in Miami Beach.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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COVID & Unemployment

Head spinning from all the unemployment numbers? Blame COVID-19.

by Mitchell Hartman
Sep 10, 2020
The pandemic has led to churn in the job market — layoffs, rehires and new hires that reflect shifting demand in the economy.
A bartender pours drinks for customers in Austin, Texas, in May. There's a lot of churn in the labor market due to COVID-19.
Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images
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COVID & Unemployment

Furloughs turning into permanent layoffs as pandemic drags on

by Kristin Schwab
Sep 8, 2020
Job losses are moving past lockdown-hit businesses to other sectors that were doing fine for a while.
Every month a worker is on temporary unemployment, they have about a 10% to 15% chance of transitioning to a permanent separation, according to one labor economist.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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