A Closer Look

COVID and Work – Logging in to learn, an infographic

COVID – Its impact US college majors

The Great Recession led to big changes in what US college students chose to study. The downturn, which started in 2008, led a shift towards more job-oriented majors, at the expense of the humanities and social sciences. After remaining relatively stable over the previous decade, the share of all students majoring in the humanities or … Continue reading →

COVID – UI in US and in Europe

Consider an average full-time employee in the food industry, who earned around $500 per weekbefore the coronavirus crisis. Average weekly unemployment insurance last year was $378, and now with the extra $600 from the coronavirus relief law, that worker could collect $978 in unemployment benefits each week for two months — nearly double what he … Continue reading →

COVID and Higher Education in US – Students are 25% more likely to go to a school that has a strong online program

Students are 25% more likely to go to a school that has a strong online program nowthan they were just 90 days ago, but colleges aren’t prepared. [L]ike every other institution, the college system is organized to protect the institution and not serve its primary constituents. Education was never designed for the student: It was … Continue reading →

COVID and Income Support in Canada – 731,000 jobless women and 681,000 jobless men were without CERB or EI in April

5.3 million women and 3.4 million men were jobless in April. This is up from 1.7 million women and 1.3 million men in March. In April, 14% of jobless women and 20% of jobless men had no income supports. As a result, 731,000 jobless women and 681,000 jobless men were without CERB or EI in … Continue reading →

COVID and Income Support in Canada – 1.4 million jobless getting none in April

In April there were 1.4 million jobless Canadians without any income support from EI or CERB, up from 895,000 in March.16% of all jobless Canadians had no support in April, down from 30% in March. The largest group of excluded workers (549,000) lost work before March 15th; they didn’t qualify for EI and can’t get … Continue reading →

Universal Basic Income (UBI) – A primer

What is UBI? On its face, the definition of a truly universal basic income is pretty straightforward: It’s an amount of cash given to everyone within a geographic area that’s then distributed unconditionally regularly, and on a long-term basis, as Marinescu describes it. (Although, the most recent UBI trials have focused on those with low … Continue reading →

COVID, Unemployment and Training – The Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative has 3,800 courses and 400 Specializations available for free

Government agencies serving unemployed populations can get Coursera for unemployed workers at no cost How the program works: 3,800 courses and 400 Specializations available for free Course Certificates offered for each course completed Enrollment is open through September 30, 2020 for organizations to enroll unemployed workers in courses Newly-enrolled learners will have through December 31, … Continue reading →

COVID, Recession and CEOs – 60% believe it will be U-shaped, 22% a ‘double dip’

A survey, conducted by YPO, has revealed what business leaders think a recession sparked by COVID-19 could look like. 60% believe the recession will be U-shaped, whilst 22% believe it could be a ‘double dip’ recession. Many fear that their firms won’t be able to survive the crisis. Global business leaders are preparing for a … Continue reading →

COVID and Jobs in Canada – Nearly 3 in 10 Canadians report that it affects their ability to meet financial obligations or essential needs

Nearly 3 in 10 (29.0%) Canadians reported that the COVID-19 situation is having a moderate or major impact on their ability to meet financial obligations or essential needs such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities and groceries. A further 23.8% said it was too soon to tell, while just under one-half (47.2%) reported minor or no impact. At the time of … Continue reading →

COVID – Professor Johan Giesecke, advisor to the Swedish Government, on lockdowns

Professor Johan Giesecke, one of the world’s most senior epidemiologists, advisor to the Swedish Government (he hired Anders Tegnell who is currently directing Swedish strategy), the first Chief Scientist of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and an advisor to the director general of the WHO, lays out with typically Swedish bluntness why … Continue reading →

COVID and Labor Market Policy – The United States as a whole lags (Canada too)

The United States as a whole lags rich countries in all types of labor-market policies. Its spending on unemployment benefits is well below the OECD average, and its total spending on labor markets is the second lowest of the group. But this is already changing. The projected unemployment spending alone following the Cares Act would … Continue reading →

COVID and Health Systems – What we are learning ?

Beyond containment efforts, what have health systems done thus far to manage this health crisis? Some countries have strengthened access to health care, highlighting the importance of high quality universal health coverage. Today, in 23 OECD countries, 20% of people forego care due to long waiting times or travel distance, and 17% because costs were … Continue reading →

COVID and Recession around the World – The Vulnerability Index by the Economist

Economic crises expose and exacerbate structural weaknesses. Analysis by The Economist of five decades of gdp data finds that growth rates in rich countries tend to converge during expansions, as even the weakest economies are pulled along. Yet during downturns performance diverges markedly. In the first half of the 2000s the average annual gap between … Continue reading →

COVID and UI in US – Maximum UI benefits will exceed 90 percent of average weekly wages in all states

WHAT HAS CONGRESS ALREADY DONE TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT CRISIS? The CARES Act—a $2 trillion relief package aimed at alleviating the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic—extends the duration of UI benefits by 13 weeks and increases payments by $600 per week through July 31st. This implies that maximum UI benefits will exceed 90 percent … Continue reading →