Millions more Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting layoffs broadened from consumer-facing industries to other segments of the economy and could remain elevated even as many parts of the country start to reopen.
This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.
Another 3.2 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, pushing the total number of jobs lost amid widespread lockdowns to more than 33 million.
The Labor Department's weekly jobless claims report on Thursday suggested layoffs broadened from consumer-facing industries to other segments of the economy and could remain elevated even as many parts of the country start to reopen.
The numbers foreshadow a brutal April jobs report set to be released on Friday.
It's expected to show a staggering jump in unemployment to 16%, which would shatter the post-World War Two record of 10.8% touched in November 1982.
Gov. Newsom said we could see gyms reopening soon, maybe "a week or so".
About 41 million Americans have applied for jobless benefits since the coronavirus pandemic hit.
