ECONOMY Houston area sees over 400,000 unemployment claims in6weeks
Unemployment boom
The numbers of unemployment claims in the Greater Houston area in March and April were several times what they were last year.
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BY DANICA SMITHWICK
see high levels of claims for several more weeks. The percentage of Houston workers who are unemployed is likely some- where in the midteens, according to Jankowski’s estimates. “I can definitely see this unem- ployment rate being the highest it’s ever been on record,” he said during an April 28 webinar. The job sectors hit the hardest statewide during the pandemic include hotels, restaurants and bars; retail trade; and health care, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Hospitality may be one of the last sectors to fully recover from the pandemic, as Jankowski said families may be hesitant to travel and be uncomfortable attending large gatherings for awhile. Gov. Greg Abbott has implemented a plan to gradually reopen some businesses, which began May 1, but
With nearly every industry in the metropolitan area facing a downturn due to the coronavirus pandemic, Houstonians can expect to continue seeing an elevated level of unemploy- ment claims in the coming weeks, according to Patrick Jankowski, senior vice president of research for the Greater Houston Partnership. Jankowski said he estimates 407,237 unemployment insurance claims have been filed in the Greater Houston area fromMarch 1-April 25. While that number does not reflect the true number of jobs lost, it represents a significant increase over the 27,012 claims made during the same time frame in 2019. Initial claims for unemployment insurance in the U.S. began trending down in early April, but Jankowski said many individuals are still having issues filing claims, so he expects to
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SOURCES: TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
some Houston-area businesses might not yet be prepared. The GHP conducted a survey of its members April 20-22 regarding plans to reopen safely. Social distancing was a top concern for businesses, followed by access to personal protective equipment, access to financial capital, access to child care and liability protections should an employee test positive for COVID-19. While state officials are eager to reopen the economy in Texas, the
aftermath of the coronavirus will have a lasting effect on the nation. Housing starts in the U.S. are down 22.3% and vehicle sales are down 32.2% since 2019—two key economic indicators Jankowski said are a concern. “It’s a bit of a sign of ... consumer apprehension,” he said. “Most consumers aren’t going to buy a car or they’re not going to buy a house if they’re worried about being able to make [payments].”
National Hospital Week May 10-16 League City ‘s Our Healthcare Community
Thank you for keeping our community healthy during these challenging times.
Show your appreciation for all the healthcare workers in our city by dropping off a card or thank you note in the bin located inside League City Hall, 300 West Walker Street, by May 16. League City will distribute
them to healthcare workers at hospitals in our community.
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