United States: more than 2.4 million new jobless claims in one week

Text by: Anne Corpet Follow

More than 2.4 million new unemployment benefit claims were made in the United States last week. The level remains very high even if it is far from the historical record recorded at the end of March. The gradual reopening of the American economy has not yet triggered a rebound in activity.

Publicity

From our correspondent in Washington,

In nine weeks 38.6 million Americans registered unemployed . A historic record over such a short period. The increase continues but it is slowing down: with 2.4 million new registrants, we are far from the peak observed during the last week of March when almost seven million people had applied for an allowance.

Donald Trump bets on a rapid rebound in the economy, he evokes a period of "  transition to greatness  " and ensures that next year will be phenomenal.

But the experts are more circumspect. Many jobs are permanently lost. Many small businesses , especially in the restaurant sector, have been forced to file for bankruptcy and Americans still worried about a pandemic still present in the country are not about to return to unrestrained consumption.

For the unemployed the already difficult situation is likely to be complicated this summer: they will receive until July an additional aid of 600 dollars per week voted by the Congress. The Democrats wish to extend this arrangement, but the Republicans oppose it.

► Read also: Coronavirus: unemployment in the United States reaches a level never seen since the 1930s

Our selection on the coronavirus

• Listen to our Coronavirus Info column 

• Our  explanations  :
→  What we know about the mode of contagion
→  Disparities and inequalities in the face of the coronavirus: what must be remembered
→  Triple therapy, Discovery… update on research
→  The race for the vaccine is in full swing
→  How to make a mask and use it well

• Our series  :
→ “  The response, country by country  ”
→ “  Nurses  ' words ”

• After Covid-19, towards a new world?

• Each evening, find the State of the world and Africa facing the pandemic

• See also the files of RFI Savoirs on the Covid-19:
→  Birth of a pandemic
→  Everyday life put to the test
→  The history of epidemics
→  Science facing the Covid-19
→  The geopolitical consequences

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• United States
• Coronavirus
• Social issues
• Employment and Work

On the same subject

Coronavirus: Unemployment in the United States Reaches Level Never Seen Since the 1930s

Coronavirus in the United States: more than 20 million private jobs destroyed in April

Coronavirus: United States Adopts Additional Crisis Assistance Plan