More than HALF of Los Angeles residents are unemployed with 1.3M jobs lost in a month after coronavirus forced California lockdown
- More than half of Los Angeles residents are unemployed, according to a study
- Researchers from USC Dornsife Center said about 1.3 million jobs have been lost since mid-March
- Gov Gavin Newsom was forced to lockdown California on March 19 to try and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus
- In the next three months, 33 percent of Los Angeles residents estimate they will run out of money
- California has more than 30,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,148 deaths
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
More than half of Los Angeles residents are now unemployed just one month after Gov Gavin Newsom was forced to issue a statewide lockdown order in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Understanding Coronavirus in America Study, led by the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR), showed a continuing loss of jobs nationally and especially in Los Angeles County, where 495 people have died from the virus and more than 11,000 have been infected.
Only 45 per cent of Los Angeles residents still have a job, according to the survey that was conducted from April 1 to 14. This illustrates a significant rise in unemployment since mid-March when at least 61 per cent of workers were still employed.
The decline represents about 1.3 million jobs. Nationally, the number fell 10 percentage points to 52 per cent.
Only 45 per cent of Los Angeles residents still have a job, according to the survey which was conducted between April 1-14
Nationally, 21 per cent of African Americans and 18 per cent of Latinos said they had lost their jobs, compared to 15 per cent of whites
Job losses among women are also significant nationally, with 17 per cent reporting that they are unemployed since March compared to just 14 per cent of men. Residents are seen applying for unemployment in Los Angeles
People of color, especially African Americans, are more likely to have lost their jobs, the survey shows.
Nationally, 21 per cent of African Americans and 18 per cent of Latinos said they had lost their jobs, compared to 15 per cent of whites.
Job losses among women are also significant nationally, with 17 per cent reporting that they are unemployed since March compared to just 14 per cent of men.
Share this article
In Los Angeles, fewer than one-quarter of Los Angeles residents have received unemployment insurance.
'Under normal circumstances, losing a job without access to benefits would be bad enough, but in the current situation, the chances of finding a new job are likely to be close to nonexistent. These changes are nothing less than catastrophic for those affected,' said Arie Kapteyn, director of CESR.
Within the next three months, 33 per cent of Los Angeles residents estimate that they will run out of money.
California Gov Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order on March 19. The state of California has more than 30,000 confirmed cases of the virus with 1,148 deaths. Los Angeles County beaches have been closed due to the coronavirus
Most beaches and virtually every other destination in California were forced to close to try and prevent further spread of the coronavirus
Schools are closed, many businesses — including bars and dine-in restaurants — are shuttered, large gatherings are banned, and popular hiking trails and beaches are largely off-limits. A basketball court has been taped off by police to prevent at Venice Beach
To begin gradually loosening restrictions in place for about a month, Newsom said there must be widespread COVID-19 testing
And people who currently have a job estimate their chance of job loss in the next three months at 15 per cent.
According to the study, Latinos are the least confident about their job security, but African Americans report the steepest increase in their likelihood of running out of money in the next three months, from a 23 per cent likelihood in mid-March to a 32 per cent likelihood now.
Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order on March 19. The state of California has more than 30,000 confirmed cases of the virus with 1,148 deaths.
Most beaches and virtually every other destination in California were forced to close to try and prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
Schools are closed, many businesses — including bars and dine-in restaurants — are shuttered, large gatherings are banned, and popular hiking trails are largely off-limits.
'There is no light switch here,' the Democratic governor said. 'I would argue it is more like a dimmer.'
More than 741,000 people across the US have been infected with the virus
To begin gradually loosening restrictions in place for about a month, Newsom said there must be widespread COVID-19 testing, which has already proved problematic.
Public health officials also would have to chase down everyone exposed to someone infected with the virus.
That's no small task in the nation's most populous state, with 40 million people spread across 750 miles.
Any broad reopening would depend on a vaccine that could be more than a year away and evidence of 'herd immunity,' meaning a sufficiently high percentage of people won't get infected.
Last week, Newsom announced a three-state pact that includes Washington state and Oregon.
Newsom said California officials will be working with both states on plans to lift their lockdowns.
Most watched News videos
- 'Anti-tourism' protesters use water pistols on visitors in Barcelona
- Drone video shows extent of flooding in Texas during Hurricane Beryl
- Jay Slater search: Ex-army officer shows off tough Tenerife terrain
- Eric Pickles says no one will listen to the Tories for a year
- Children's hospital blown up in 'genocidal' missile strike on Kyiv
- Moment Putin's 'genocidal' missile strike hits children's hospital
- Angela Rayner's power dressing: A look at some of her recent outfits
- Old Ayub Qassim post sees him outside Airbnb where Jay was last seen
- Jaw dropping moment BA flight is struck by lightning above London
- Two wanted men arrested at Manchester Airport after crash
- Mum's tribute to boy left in vegetative state after pier flip
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails 'memorable welcome' to Russia
