Unemployment seeing record highs, but some jobs are still available

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The coronavirus outbreak has led to an unprecedented number of Americans losing their jobs virtually overnight. The U.S. Congress passed a $3-trillion stimulus bill, but the number of job losses continues to climb.

The job market is daunting for those looking for work, but some companies are hiring and some are even having a hard time finding workers.

CGTN’s Karina Huber reports.

More than 36 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in just two months.

The official unemployment rate was 14% in April, but is likely much higher.

The Chairman of the Federal Reserve believes it could hit 25%, a level not seen since the Great Depression.

Finding a job in the current climate is tough but career counselor Roy Cohen says it’s not impossible.

“The reality is that people do get jobs even in depressions, folks have been re-employed,” Cohen said.

According to LinkedIn, there are many positions available right now, particularly in delivery and healthcare.

Amazon, Instacart and CVS are hiring in big numbers.

Some restaurants, like this one in Rhode Island, are even having a hard time finding workers.

Restaurant owners say generous unemployment benefits – some up to $1,000 a week – are a disincentive to work, especially now that waiters will make less in tips.

“I don’t blame them. They’re not gonna go back to work if they’re going to wait on one table or two tables a night. It doesn’t make sense,” said restaurant owner Komes Rozes.

Cohen said that could be short-sighted as the unemployment benefits will run out.

“When it ends, you’re going to be left with zero. At least get started in this process, because it will take a while to secure a position,” Cohen said.

But long stretches of unemployment can significantly damage or even end workers’ careers, said Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

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