Coronavirus: US workers seeking jobless aid near 40 million

2020-05-22 06:40:45

A further 2.4 million Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, despite hopes that easing lockdown restrictions would help restart the US economy. The new filings brought the total since mid-March to roughly 38.6 million - almost a quarter of the workforce. The weekly figures have declined since peaking at almost 6.9 million at the end of March but remain high. The number of people remaining on benefits also continues to grow. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned this week that the US risked "permanent damage" if the lockdowns continued. All 50 states in the US have started to reopen but it is not clear whether simply easing restrictions will prompt activity to rebound.