As of writing this article, a shocking 36 million American workers have filed for unemployment as a direct result of the COVID-19 virus and the subsequent shutdowns and stay-at-home orders. That number represents almost 20 percent of the entire country’s workforce – or nearly 1 in 5 people. It’s a staggering statistic, no matter how you slice or dice it.
And while the hope is that this is a temporary blip on the radar, the reality is that not every laid off worker will return to their job over the next few weeks or even months. Even after the economy opens backup, there will still be those who will struggle to find work.
