Maintaining and Enhancing Labor Statistics during the COVID-19 Pandemic

摘要

The COVID-19 pandemic produced the most chaotic and complex period in recent US economic history and one that has caused tremendous disruption and huge economic and social losses. The spread of the virus early in the year, and the resulting shutdown orders, caused economic activity to decline sharply. The economy experienced a loss of 22 million payroll jobs, which marked an abrupt end to a landmark stretch of job creation. Among the hardest-hit industries was the leisure and hospitality sector, which saw half of all jobs disappear. Subsequently, the economy experienced a rebound much greater and quicker than anticipated, but challenges and uncertainty persist as we move through the winter with virus cases accelerating. Initially, employment in industries that were not deemed essential, and that provided goods and services requiring considerable interaction between workers and customers, was especially vulnerable to shutdown policies and social distancing. Ultimately, nearly every industry experienced employment losses.