
COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Brings Opportunity for Change in Perspectives and Attitudes About Unemployment
The number of initial COVID-19 Coronavirus unemployment benefit insurance claims resulting from the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic decreased from 6.6 million the previous week to 5.2 million for traditional (and eligible) American workers last week, according to U. S. Department of Labor (DOL) data.
However, DOL data shows that, altogether over the last four weeks, nearly 22 million people filed first-time jobless claims, and what’s worse? Economists expect a continual increase in this weekly count—for months to come.
Nearly three weeks ago, President Donald Trump signed Congress’ enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act—also known as the $2 trillion coronavirus relief package—to support individual aid and boost consumer spending. This piece of legislation will, according to DOL Secretary Eugene Scalia in a press release, provide “hundreds of dollars in unprecedented funding for traditional unemployment insurance and pandemic unemployment assistance, and one-time cash payments of $1,200 or more to Americans making $75,000 or less ($150,000 for those who are married).”