Analysis: These 10 States Have Seen the Highest Share of their Workforce File for Unemployment Amid COVID-19

From US Chamber of Commerce, May 13, 2020

Americans have filed nearly 37 million unemployment claims since the beginning of March amid the coronavirus pandemic and corresponding economic fallout. While no state has been spared, the downturn has hit some states particularly hard.

New analysis produced by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shows that the following 10 states have seen the largest percentage of their workforces file unemployment claims since the beginning of March, using their total February workforce as a baseline.

Note: This analysis reflects the latest data released Thursday by the Department of Labor and covers the full months of March and April (unemployment claims filed March 1 – May 2). …

3. Hawaii 

212,295 unemployment claims 

32.2% of the workforce has filed an unemployment claim 

The story in Hawaii is straightforward. The travel industry has been all but halted and Hawaii’s job market is heavily concentrated in accommodation. More than 19 percent of employed Hawaii residents work in the industry. When adding in retail workers and those working in education and health services, more than half of Hawaii’s workers are in hard-hit industries. The tourism-related jobs will come back once people are confident about traveling again. …

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