The hardest hit sector nationally, and in every state, continues to be leisure and hospitality, in which the accommodation and food services industry has lost 23.9% of its employment and the arts, entertainment and recreation industry has lost 36.5% jobs as of July.
In their updated report, authors Michael Ettlinger and Jordan Hensley, of The Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire, reveal the latest employment and jobs data and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. economy.
Their findings show that the jobs comeback that the U.S. saw in May and June faltered in July as COVID-19 spread to more parts of the country. The states with more COVID-19 cases saw slower job growth overall than those states with fewer cases. However, even states with fewer cases are not approaching full recovery and are still well down from February employment levels.
Every state in the country is well down from its February employment levels. A jobs comeback in May, and especially June, fell off in July as COVID-19 spread to more parts of the country.
As of July, net job losses since February were worse than in the Great Recession for 39 states. Even the other 11 states have seen extreme job loss, however.
Current Issue - April 2024