Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]
Unemployment rates have recorded extraordinarily high levels during the pandemic, further affecting immigrant and Afro-descendent communities, and it is expected that in the coming months there will be an increase related to a higher number of cases of COVID-19.
According to a report by the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI), the average the unemployment rate during the third quarter of 2019 was 4.0 percent, while by July of this year recorded a maximum level of 16 percent.
And although the rate dropped to 9.0 percent in October, much lower than that seen in July, it is still more than double the average seen in 2019, "a worrying sign that in future months there may be an increase rather than a decrease in unemployment.
The institute indicated that all groups have been deeply affected by the recession because of the VOC-19 pandemic; however, immigrants and people of African descent are among the most affected.
But Undocumented immigrants can be among the most affected sectorsThey are not covered by government support programs, such as the unemployment insurance system, which can help workers in difficult times.
For example, when comparing the third quarter of 2020 with the same period of the previous year in New York State, it can be seen that the unemployment rate overall it was 13%, more than triple the number registered in 2019.
However, there is a notable difference if we analyze it by groups. For Caucasians, the unemployment rate was 10 percent, for people of African descent 13 percent, and for people in the Latino community, the rate was 19 percent.
"There is good reason to believe that undocumented immigrants have been the most affected, since they also run out of many of the supports that other workers can count on in difficult times, such as unemployment insurance or health insurance.
The FPI report added that, while there is no direct measure of unemployment among undocumented workers, looking at the industries in which undocumented immigrants work gives an idea of the labor market they face.
On the one hand, undocumented workers are particularly concentrated among essential workers in supermarkets, public transportation, delivery services and health care.
On the other hand, immigrants are also concentrated in the industries that have seen the greatest job losses, such as restaurants and hotels, that is, in jobs that have not been able to continue their activities relatively quietly from home.
In addition, the biggest drop in jobs in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the previous year was in sectors such as entertainment and leisure -46%-, as well as accommodation and food services -40%-.
Thus, he recommended that federal funds that reach the states be flexible enough to allow all groups to be included in the assistance, including immigrants.
As well as making sure that people who are working, but cannot do so from home, have the personal protective equipment they need to keep themselves as safe as possible.
