Written By: Harini Manda
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in U.S. employees getting laid off at an unprecedented rate. It has shut down much of the economy (particularly retail, touring, and travel), and the aid that was supposed to be provided to the unemployed hasn’t arrived. Consequently, many businesses are on the verge of bankruptcy. Hundreds of thousands of people are applying for jobless benefits that deliver welfare to purchase food and pay rent only to get turned down due to the large number of unemployed.
Unemployment in America has recently hit 14.7% on account of the pandemic although it is starting to lower because of reopening. The unemployment rate hasn’t been this high since the Great Depression. Approximately 20.5 million jobs have been lost in April itself. As previously mentioned, some job industries have been affected more seriously than others. Retailers are facing numerous obstacles around health, safety, consumer demand, and marketing. The “Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation” sector is among the hardest hit industries by this pandemic. Activities such as boat tours and off-road adventures were inevitably cancelled. America’s travel industry has lost over 4.6 million jobs in May. Moreover, numerous airlines were shut down due to health and safety precautions, causing the industry to lose millions of dollars because of a lack of customers.
While unemployment claims rapidly rise in California, hiring continues in two sections: grocery retail and delivery. New job opportunities advance as stores start to reopen. Companies like Amazon are offering to change 125,000 temporary jobs into permanent ones. Stores such as Target, Trader Joes, and Home Depot are in need of employees to cover the surge of demand. Although the pandemic is sure to leave a mark on the way people work, only time will tell.
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