Older workers face a steeper climb if they lose their jobs, with less time before retirement to make up lost wages, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Black and Latino communities have also been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and supporters of “right to return” say it’s a way to keep workers in those communities from being doubly disadvantaged.
NPR
September 29, 2020
Cuts to law enforcement are almost certainly coming, given the severity of economic damage that the pandemic is doing to state and local governments. The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities estimates that state budget shortfalls will add up to 10% for fiscal year 2020 and more than 20% for FY 2021, with Texas among the states hit hardest. Without any further federal aid, the Economic Policy Institute estimates that some 5.3 million people could lose their jobs by the end of 2021. And according to the EPI, job losses in the public sector will be felt chiefly among women and Black workers.
Bloomberg
September 29, 2020
Public high school teachers in the United States earned approximately 19.2% less than other college-educated workers in 2019, according to the report, “Teacher pay penalty dips but persists in 2019,” published Sept. 17, 2020 by the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank.
24/7 Wall St.
September 29, 2020
Estimates vary for how many Americans are likely to lose their employer-sponsored health coverage by the end of 2020; a recent study by Avalere Health estimated 12 million while the Economic Policy Institute said last month that about 12 million have already lost their insurance since February.
Common Dreams
September 29, 2020
The Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator was used to determine the local cost of living, which includes housing, food, health care, transportation and other necessities. In many of the locations identified, housing costs can account for more than 30 percent of these expenses.
The Center Square
September 29, 2020
The Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator was used to determine the local cost of living, which includes housing, food, health care, transportation and other necessities. In many of the locations identified, housing costs can account for more than 30 percent of these expenses.
The Center Square
September 29, 2020
The Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator was used to determine the local cost of living, which includes housing, food, health care, transportation and other necessities. In many of the locations identified, housing costs can account for more than 30 percent of these expenses.
The Center Square
September 29, 2020
There are myriad ways employment might be affected as well. Economists such as Jhacova Williams and Valerie Wilson at the Economic Policy Institute have detailed why Black Americans have higher rates of underemployment than white Americans. One reason is that Black people do not have the capital — such as from a home — that would allow for extended periods of unemployment; instead, they are forced to accept subpar opportunities out of an immediate need to pay bills.
VOX
September 28, 2020
The U.S. lost 22 million jobs as a result of the virus outbreak. Between February and April, Black workers saw a greater loss in employment than white workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute, which noted that in April less than half of the black adult population was employed.
EPI said that economic devastation was particularly widespread in the black community because they have traditionally experienced higher unemployment rates, lower wages and have less savings to fall back on.
Fox Business
September 28, 2020