More than 6 million Americans lost their jobs

(Patria) – 6.6 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits, which is double the number from the previous week, indicating that employers continue to lay off employees in this global superpower.

According to data from the Department of Labor, about 3.3 million citizens lost their jobs in America last week alone. Economists predict that this number will reach 20 million by the end of April.

The unemployment rate this month has reached 15%, significantly higher than the 10.8% recorded during the severe recession of 1982.

The US is the epicenter of the pandemic with over 190,000 infected individuals.

Last week, the US Congress expanded the previously approved emergency support package for the unemployed amounting to 2.2 trillion dollars. According to the new law, every unemployed person will receive $600 per week in addition to the amount they receive from their home state. This will enable the unemployed to cover living costs and increase purchasing power, which will ultimately help the economy.

Other countries affected by the epidemic are also laying off workers; in Spain, for example, 900,000 of its citizens have lost their jobs.

 

 

(Source Euronews)