On Friday the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its April Jobs Report.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues and our economy remains largely closed, many people are struggling, losing work, and wondering when this nightmare will be over.
The U.S. unemployment rate has soared to 14.7 percent with 20.5 million people losing their jobs in April. These rates are the worst since the Great Depression era.
Women, in particular, are suffering, accounting for more than half of the job losses.
But in the midst of all this bad news, the American Spirit continues to rise anew.
A recent Washington Post-Ipsos poll reports that “the vast majority of laid-off or furloughed workers — 77 percent — expect to be rehired by their previous employer once the stay-at-home orders in their area are lifted.”
This lockdown can’t continue forever.
As governors begin to reopen society, slowly, cautiously, step by step Americans will rise. As communities come together to care for each other, they’ll strengthen one another on this road to recovery.
Even the stock market is beginning to rise, with CNBC reporting that the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 450 points.
Our economy took a hit this past month and many Americans eye the future with uncertainty. But Americans are strong, and they are resilient. We’re #InThisTogether and whether it’s weeks or months, we’ll come out of this together.
Congress has been working hard to provide support to the many Americans suffering hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s a temporary solution. Let’s hope that governors will find innovative and safe ways to reopen society and let Americans get back to work for our permanent good.