Almost 10 months later, Davis is still looking for work. A veteran with more than 20 years in the restaurant industry, she has applied “non-stop” to a wide range of positions, including in management, operations and as an executive assistant, with little or no response.
To have more options, she is now studying to become a real estate broker and is taking online classes to major in marketing at the University of Maryland.
“I’m trying to find everything I can to get through,” said Davis, 36, who lives in Bethesda, Maryland. “The reality is that the restaurant, catering and events industry will not be the same for a few years.”
Although employers have rehired millions of Americans since the coronavirus pandemic affected the economy last spring, nearly 4 million workers like Davis are now in the ranks of the long-term unemployed, up from 2.4 million in September. These people, who have been out of work for at least six months, represent more than 37% of the unemployed.
And once the unemployed reach that gloomy milestone, it is often more difficult for them to reenter the workforce – further slowing the country’s economic recovery.
“They are under arrest and are beginning to face discrimination,” said William Spriggs, a professor of economics at Howard University and chief economist at the AFL-CIO. “Employers believe they are damaged goods.”
Further analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that just over half of those who have been unemployed for a long time come from some sectors: leisure and hospitality, which represent a quarter of the group, as well as education and health and trade services wholesaler and retailer.
The difficulty of obtaining a new position afflicts both the most qualified and the least qualified workers, with managers, professionals and salespeople having long-term unemployment rates even higher than those working in the services.
Meanwhile, among unemployed black and Asian Americans, more than 40% have been unemployed for at least half a year, according to federal data. But among its white and Hispanic counterparts, the number is close to a third.
Women are slightly more likely to be unemployed for a long time than men, especially among those 25 to 44 years old. The reverse is true among those aged 45 to 64.
Strong competition for jobs
Tyler Johnson lost his job in April when signing up customers with a telecommunications company. The 23-year-old wants to continue in the marketing field to use the certificates he has earned. He also hopes to work from home, as he is worried about getting the coronavirus.
Although the Tulsa, Oklahoma resident says he could probably work at a fast food restaurant, he is trying not to step back in his career. He did several virtual interviews for telecommunications stations, but later learned that someone more qualified was selected.
“The workforce is full,” said Johnson, who is also building his own business, Clay Johnson Entertainment Promotion. “So many people are looking for the same job.”
Another 4.5 million Americans received payments through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which opened benefits for those who are not traditionally eligible, including freelancers, concert workers and freelancers.
Andrew Appold is grateful that Congress has extended the expiry unemployment programs and included the additional payment of $ 300 per week. Disneyworld entertainment technician, Appold has been licensed since April. He is spending the savings he accumulated last year with the $ 600 increase and had to resort to credit cards and family members to cover his expenses. He receives only $ 275 a week in state unemployment benefits.
Appold, 31, completed his master’s degree in organizational leadership and project management last year. The resident of Davenport, Florida, has applied for several hundred jobs across the country, but has secured only one interview for a personal assistant job he has failed to get.
And today, most of the jobs he sees advertised are for low-paid jobs, for which he is overqualified.
Your next step: Appold plans to save as much as possible to start traveling to other cities to personally deliver resumes at companies. He is also developing his line of pop culture graphic arts clothing, AJacob Fashions.
“Applying for jobs on LinkedIn for anonymous email addresses you can’t answer is no longer working,” said Appold.