Unemployment in New York: how many people have lost their jobs and what will happen next

Economists predict that unemployment in the United States could rise to about 20% by June, a level not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The publication wrote about who was the first to lose their job in New York and apply for unemployment, and who is not entitled to support from the state CNN.

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How it all began

Ten days before New Yorkers were urged to quarantine, Truman Lam, 35, was already considering closing his Jing Fong restaurant in Manhattan's Chinatown. It was Tuesday, March 10th. In the afternoon, he decided to check how many visitors were in his dining room, seating up to 800 people, and counted a total of 36.

According to him, the business began to slow down in January and fell by 80%. All March parties have been canceled. But Lam continued to work. However, when there was not enough money even to pay wages for the day, he made the final decision to close the restaurant. He let 170 employees go home and recommended that they apply for unemployment benefits.

Across New York, a huge number of such companies shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. People without a job were forced to apply for unemployment benefits.

Unemployed among racial groups

Asian workers filed the largest number of initial unemployment claims over the past four weeks, with 147, compared with 2100 in the same period last year. This is 6900% higher than any other racial or ethnic group.

Among the white population, the number of people applying for unemployment benefits increased by 1840%; among blacks - by 1260%; among Hispanic residents - by 2100%.

New York stands out from other states in that in early April it began to publish weekly detailed demographic data on applicants for unemployment benefits. It is not surprising that the number of applications in each state is growing rapidly, reflecting the sharp economic downturn, as a result of which, since mid-March, 30 million Americans first applied for unemployment benefits.

Who was the first to lose his job

Low-wage workers were the first to be hit by the economic downturn. For example, employees of restaurants, small shops and nail salons. “You can’t cut your fingernails six feet apart, right?” — commented Wellington Z. Chen, executive director of the non-profit Chinatown Partnership.

More fortunate enough to the so-called "white-collar workers." This category includes doctors, surgeons, and software developers. They are more resistant to layoffs. However, economists expect these sectors to suffer further during the pandemic.

The reason for the increase in the number of applications for benefits

Some people are sent on unpaid leave, others are fired themselves, not wanting to endanger themselves.

Thus, 25-year-old Lin Weng lives in Sunset Park, an area known as Brooklyn's Chinatown. She worked at the coffee shop until she was placed on unpaid leave on March 22. But while she was still working, she encountered an incident: one client refused service because of her Weng race. “One lady came in and the first thing she asked me was, ‘Do you have coronavirus?’” Weng recalls. She added that the woman ordered an iced coffee, but then changed her mind and left.

Columbia University sociology professor Jennifer Lee believes the damage was done by US President Donald Trump's remarks calling the coronavirus the "Chinese virus." “Although he no longer refers to the coronavirus as the 'Chinese virus,' the damage has already been done,” she wrote in an email.

The number of attacks on Asians in New York has also increased. NYPD Special Forces reported that of the 14 hate crimes associated with coronavirus that it had investigated since the outbreak began, all victims were of Asian descent.

Read more on Forum Daily New York.

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