The United States registered 5.2 million new applications for unemployment benefits last week, bringing the total of those who applied for benefits to about 22 million Americans.
According to ArabiaNet, Labor Ministry statistics as of April 11 indicate that the US economy has lost 22 million jobs since mid-March, while anti-epidemic measures Coffid-19 have forced many companies, shops and restaurants to close their doors.
While the number of applications filed last week to obtain unemployment benefits for the first time reflects a decrease of 1.4 million compared to the previous week, this does not reduce the darkness of the conditions.
In the same period last year, 203,000 people applied for unemployment benefits for the first time, according to a report by the Ministry of Labor.
The report considered that the high unemployment rates are attributed to Covid-19, especially due to the temporary layoffs in hotels, the food sector, retail, construction and even mining.
Economists have considered this to be an indication that temporary layoffs have peaked, but US unemployment rates are likely to double in April.
Oxford University economist Gregory Daco says that after registering an unprecedented rise, it appears that for the first time applications for unemployment benefits have risen significantly.
However, he considers that the numbers will remain very high in the coming weeks, as the economy enters a greater recession and the labor market enters a difficult period.
