Unemployment in the US reaches 39 million people during the pandemic.
In the first quarter of 2020, the US economy shrank by 4,8%, the largest economic decline since the 2008-2009 crisis. Economists warn of the possibility of a sharp recession in the second quarter, meaning that job losses could remain considerable.
Sputnik Brazil - The total number of unemployed people in the United States reached 39 million during the coronavirus pandemic.
The number of unemployed increased by 2,5 million last week alone, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on Thursday (21). Despite the overall increase, there was a decrease compared to the previous week, when almost 3 million people filed for unemployment benefits in the country.
With an increase of about 1,7 percentage points from one week to the next, the unemployment rate in the US reached 17,2%, according to the US Department of Labor.
In the first quarter of 2020, the US economy shrank by 4,8%, the largest economic decline since the 2008-2009 crisis. Although almost all 50 US states have begun reopening their economies, economists warn of the possibility of a sharp recession in the second quarter, meaning that job losses could remain considerable.
The largest increases in unemployment claims in the country occurred in Florida. The US state, with a strong economic drive in tourism and leisure activities, saw 48.222 more claims than the previous week due to layoffs caused by the drop in vacation travel, a situation forced by the pandemic.
California, on the other hand, saw the largest drop in the number of unemployment claims. The most populous state in the US, with one of the most diversified economies in the country, saw a decrease of 103.590 claims compared to the previous week.
The US is the country most affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The country has recorded more than 1,5 million cases of COVID-19 and 93.863 deaths caused by the disease, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.