Unemployment in America
How has the pandemic reshaped unemployment rates across the country in 2020?
COVID-19 has brought about an economic emergency as well as a public health one. All around the world, people have lost jobs, businesses have been shuttered or are barely hanging on, and stock markets have been rattled. One of the central economic issues has been unemployment. In April, the US lost 20.5 million jobs and hit almost 15% unemployment, numbers not seen since the Great Depression ( New York Times ).
Explore the maps below to see how unemployment rates have changed over 2020 by state. Information about the course of the pandemic is from NBC News and the American Journal of Managed Care.
January
On the 9th, the WHO makes an announcement about a coronavirus-related pneumonia in Wuhan, China. On the 21st, the CDC confirms the first US case.
Most states have unemployment rates below 5%. The lowest unemployment rate in the country is North Dakota, with 2.3%, The highest is Alaska, with 6%.
February
On the 3rd, the US declares a public health emergency. On the 25th, the CDC says COVID-19 is headed for pandemic status.
Most states have unemployment rates below 5%. The lowest unemployment rate in the country is North Dakota, with 2.2%, The highest is Alaska, with 5.8%.
March
On the 11th, the CDC declares COVID-19 a pandemic. On the 19th, California becomes the first state to issue a stay-at-home order. The Senate passes the CARES Act on the 26th. Schools and businesses close, and cases rise. Some notable individuals to test positive in March: Boris Johnson and Tom Hanks.
Most states still have unemployment rates below 5%, but numbers are rising. The lowest unemployment rate in the country is North Dakota, with 2%, The highest is Nevada, with 6.9%.
April
Confirmed cases and death tolls rise all over the world. Individuals are urged to stay at home. Cases in New York rise above 150,000. On the 10th, according to a Johns Hopkins tally, the global death toll reaches 100,000.
Unemployment skyrockets. The lowest rate is in Connecticut, at 8.3%. The highest is in Nevada, at 30.1%.
May
On May Day, essential workers from various companies hold protests over COVID safety. On the 25th, George Floyd is killed, sparking protests which lead to fears of outbreaks. On the 28th, US deaths pass the 100,000 mark.
Unemployment is still high, but not at April levels. The lowest rate is Nebraska with 5.3%, and the highest is Nevada, with 25.3%.
June
On the 10th, US cases hit 2 million. On the 30th, Anthony Fauci warns that new cases could hit 100,000 per day.
Unemployment goes down but is still high. The lowest rate is Kentucky with 4.4% and the highest is Massachusetts with 17.7%.
July
On the 2nd, some states reverse their opening plans. On the 7th, the US surpasses 3 million infections. Vaccines start to show promising results.
Unemployment declines again but is still high. Kentucky has the lowest rate, 4.5%, and Massachusetts the highest, 16.2%.
August
On the 11th, the Trump Administration agrees to pay $1.5 billion for 100 million doses of Moderna's vaccine candidate. On the 17th, COVID becomes the 3rd leading cause of death in the US.
Unemployment falls again. Nebraska has the lowest rate with 4% and Nevada the highest with 13.3%.
September
On the 23rd, a new and more contagious strain of the virus is discovered. On the 28th, global deaths surpass 1 million.
Unemployment goes down again. The lowest rate is in Nebraska, with 3.6% and the highest is Hawaii, with 15%.
October
On the 2nd, President Trump announces he has tested positive. On the 20th, the world crosses the 40 million case mark.
Again, unemployment falls. Nebraska has the lowest rate with 3%, and Hawaii the highest with 14.2%.
November*
The general election was held Nov. 3, with a record number of mail-in/absentee ballots. Americans are warned not to travel for Thanksgiving, and by the end of the month the nation passes 13 million cases.
Unemployment holds pretty steady. The lowest rate is Nebraska with 3.1%, and the highest is New Jersey with 10.2%.
*last month shown, because data for December unreleased at time of writing
Compare March and April - the greatest month-to-month change
Left: March, Right: April
Compare January to November - the first and last months featured
Left: January, Right: November
Sources:
Coronavirus timeline: Tracking the critical moments of Covid-19, NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/coronavirus-timeline-tracking-critical-moments-covid-19-n1154341
A Timeline of COVID-19 Developments in 2020, American Journal of Managed Care, https://www.ajmc.com/view/a-timeline-of-covid19-developments-in-2020
Local Area Unemployment Statistics Map, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://data.bls.gov/lausmap/showMap.jsp;jsessionid=4A50A085E5363FFDF5CD42F24316B9AA._t3_08v
How Bad Is Unemployment? ‘Literally Off the Charts’, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/08/business/economy/april-jobs-report.html
Photo:
Unemployed men queued outside a depression soup kitchen opened in Chicago by Al Capone, unknown photographer, from U.S. Information Agency https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Unemployed_men_queued_outside_a_depression_soup_kitchen_opened_in_Chicago_by_Al_Capone,_02-1931_-_NARA_-_541927.jpg