ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø

ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Authors

See citation below for complete author information.

Malcolm Wiener Professor of Social Policy, ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø; Professor of Sociology, FAS

Abstract

The effect of the coronavirus outbreak on the U.S. labor market has been profound. In the early weeks of the outbreak, the unemployment rate skyrocketed from 4% in February to almost 15% in April of 2020. Although the economy has partially recovered since April, as of August 2020, the unemployment rate stood at over 8%, more than twice as high as it had been just 6 months prior. The economic toll of the coronavirus outbreak has been particularly severe for service sector workers. As state-wide orders to close businesses went into effect, many retail, food service, and hospitality workers experienced layoffs and furloughs. Jobs in these sectors are currently at half to two-thirds of their previous levels.

Citation

Schneider, Daniel, Kristen Harknett, and Annette Gailliot. "Unemployed Without a Net: Few Unemployed Service Sector Workers Received UI and Many Experienced Hardships." Shift Project, 2020.