This State Is Having the Hardest Time Bouncing Back From Unemployment
COVID cost countless jobs, but some states are having a harder time than others getting them back.
As you read this, there are some 13.6 million Americans unemployed due to COVID-19, according to Sept. 2020 data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And while that is a staggering number of people without jobs, it's actually a significant improvement compared to what it was a few months ago. According to BLS data, 1.4 million jobs were added in Aug. 2020, bringing the national unemployment rate to 8.4 percent, a pretty substantial drop when you consider that it was at nearly 15 percent just a few months ago. But while unemployment is improving on a national level, some states are still having a hard time recovering.
Based on weekly unemployment data from the weeks of Mar. 16 through Sept. 14, 2020, compared with the same period last year, WalletHub ranked all 50 states on how well they've recovered in terms of week-to-week unemployment rates. Here are the the states that have had the worst time recovering from unemployment since COVID began, along with how their rates have changed since the beginning of 2020 and in the last 12 months. And if you know a friend in this tight spot, check out The Worst Thing You Could Say to Someone Who Lost Their Job.
5
Virginia
Change in unemployment rate since COVID began: 1,795.13 percent
Change in unemployment rate since the beginning of 2020: 291.84 percent
Change in unemployment rate in the last year: 478.87 percent
And if you're looking for a new gig, check out Remote Jobs You Didn't Know Existed.
4
Oklahoma
Change in unemployment rate since COVID began: 1,854.83 percent
Change in unemployment rate since the beginning of 2020: 88.92 percent
Change in unemployment rate in the last year: 234.94 percent
3
New Hampshire
Change in unemployment rate since COVID began: 2,115.95 percent
Change in unemployment rate since the beginning of 2020: 229.28 percent
Change in unemployment rate in the last year: 538.20 percent
And for more on some people who don't have to worry about their next paycheck, This Is the Richest Person in Every State.
2
Florida
Change in unemployment rate since COVID began: 2,207.83 percent
Change in unemployment rate since the beginning of 2020: 675.86 percent
Change in unemployment rate in the last year: 499.95 percent
1
Georgia
Change in unemployment rate since COVID began: 2,912.01 percent
Change in unemployment rate since the beginning of 2020: 184.13 percent
Change in unemployment rate in the last year: 1,037.31 percent
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