Full-time employees - unadjusted monthly number in the U.S. March 2021
The impact COVID-19 on employment
In December 2019, an infectious disease classified as COVID-19 first started in Wuhan, China. Since being classified as a pandemic, it has caused a global health crisis that has taken the lives of over 2.9 million people worldwide so far. The COVID-19 pandemic has consequently changed every facet of society, most significantly, the economy. As a result of many businesses across all industries being forced to shut down, many employees have been laid off. Unfortunately, the nationwide unemployment rate went from 4.4 percent in March 2020 to 14.7 percent the following month, the highest since World War II. As of March 2021, this has lowered to six percent.
Unemployment benefits
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the large number of jobs lost, many residents in the United States have filed for unemployment. The United States government has issued relief checks worth 1,200 U.S. dollars to American adults who make less than 100,000 U.S. dollars in order to help alleviate any financial burdens caused by the virus. In December 2020, a second round of financial relief worth 600 U.S. dollars was distributed to American adults who make less than 100,000 U.S. dollars and another 1,400 in March 2020.