This year some 2.3 million job cuts were announced, almost quadruple the number of 2019. Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images
The number of Americans who applied for unemployment assistance was virtually unchanged in the last week of 2020 , as unemployment benefits for laid-off workers passed by Congress increased.
Approximately 787,000 people requested the unemployment check in the week ended January 2, reported the Department of work. That’s only 3, , 000.
Others 161,000 applied for unemployment assistance in the context of the pandemic, special federal program for freelancers , as well as concert and show workers
It is the first time since March that new jobless claims, including those from self-employed workers, fell below a million per week when taken into account seasonal adjustments.
This year has seen a record number of announced job cuts, according to the firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. This year about 2.3 million cuts were announced , almost quadruple the number of 2019.
Economists predict that weekly jobless claims will increase now that there is an increase in the check for $ 300 dollars , in some states, as well as the increase in weekly benefits for the unemployed.
Although the economy is expected to recover quickly once vaccines are widely distributed, that point is still a long way off in the immediate future for many.
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