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U.S. Department of Labor reports half of jobs lost due to COVID-19 have been restored

By Madison Parry

A Friday report from the department shows that despite a seasonally adjusted job loss in education, private-sector jobs went up and large gains were made in lower-wage jobs, the third quarter ending with a 7.9 percent unemployment rate, half the rate projected in May 2020.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Labor released an announcement that a recent report shows half of jobs lost due to COVID-19 have been restored.

A Friday news release from the U.S. Department of Labor included a statement from U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia on the September 2020 Employment Situation Report:

“Today’s report shows 877,000 private-sector jobs added back in September, and an additional 145,000 jobs from July and August,” Scalia said. “However, the report reflects a seasonally-adjusted loss of 350,000 jobs in public and private education. Large gains were made in lower-wage jobs in retail and leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing added 66,000 jobs, its largest increase since June. 

Scalia confirmed that over half of jobs lost due to COVID-19 have been restored.

“More than half the jobs lost from the pandemic have now been restored, and the third quarter ended with a 7.9 percent unemployment rate, half the15.8 percent third quarter unemployment rate projected by the Congressional Budget Office in May,” Scalia said in the release.