The American economy added a mere 235,000 jobs in August, perhaps one-third of what economists were predicting. Experts reckon that the Delta virus reduced job creation by about 600,000, as workers with child-care responsibility stayed home, and those exposed to contact with the public preferred the safety of their homes to the risk of taking available jobs in the leisure and hospitality industries. Those industries, which have grown at an average of 350,000 jobs in the past six months, added no jobs in August. Employment in retailing declined. Also, the data were gathered before this week’s expiration of the $300 per week federal top-up of state unemployment benefits, which made staying at home financially feasible.
DELTA UP, NEW JOBS DOWN
DELTA UP, NEW JOBS DOWN
DELTA UP, NEW JOBS DOWN
The American economy added a mere 235,000 jobs in August, perhaps one-third of what economists were predicting. Experts reckon that the Delta virus reduced job creation by about 600,000, as workers with child-care responsibility stayed home, and those exposed to contact with the public preferred the safety of their homes to the risk of taking available jobs in the leisure and hospitality industries. Those industries, which have grown at an average of 350,000 jobs in the past six months, added no jobs in August. Employment in retailing declined. Also, the data were gathered before this week’s expiration of the $300 per week federal top-up of state unemployment benefits, which made staying at home financially feasible.