skip to main content
Economy
COVID-19 Disrupts 30% of Americans' Jobs or Finances
Economy

COVID-19 Disrupts 30% of Americans' Jobs or Finances

Story Highlights

  • Nearly one in three Americans have experienced job or income disruption
  • Ten percent of Americans have been temporarily laid off
  • Two percent have permanently lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nearly one in three Americans have experienced a temporary layoff, permanent job loss, reduction in hours, or reduction of income as a result of the coronavirus situation. Eighteen percent have experienced more than one of these disruptions.

Employment and Financial Disruption Experienced by Americans Due to COVID-19
Have you experienced any of the following changes to your employment as the result of the coronavirus?
Yes, among all Americans
%
More than one disruption to employment or income 18
One disruption to employment or income 12
No disruptions to employment or income 70
Gallup Panel, April 13-19, 2020

Looking at these events separately, 10% of Americans report they have been temporarily laid off from work as a result of the coronavirus, and an additional 2% say that the situation has caused them to permanently lose their job. More common than loss of employment are reductions in hours (15%) and loss of income (26%).

COVID-19's Impact on Americans' Jobs
Have you experienced any of the following changes to your employment as the result of the coronavirus?
Yes, among all Americans
%
Seen a loss of income 26
Had your hours reduced 15
Been temporarily laid off 10
Been permanently let go 2
Gallup Panel, April 13-19, 2020

Gallup also finds that these impacts have been more pronounced among those in lower income brackets. Among those respondents whose annual household income (before the pandemic) was less than $36,000 annually, 14% report being temporarily laid off, 4% have been permanently been let go, and 32% have seen a loss of income.

Americans Who Have Experienced Job Change Due to COVID-19, by Household Income
Have you experienced any of the following changes to your employment as the result of the coronavirus? % Yes
<$36,000 $36,000-$90,000 $90,000+
% % %
Seen a loss of income 32 24 25
Had your hours reduced 18 15 14
Been temporarily laid off 14 10 9
Been permanently let go 4 1 1
Gallup Panel, April 13-19, 2020

These data reinforce a recent Gallup finding that 25% of employed Americans think they are likely to be laid off in the next year. Despite this concern, among those respondents who have been laid off, 85% believe it is likely that they will be able to return to their job once the crisis has ended, with 60% saying that it is "very likely."

Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works.


Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/309299/covid-disrupts-americans-jobs-finances.aspx
Gallup World Headquarters, 901 F Street, Washington, D.C., 20001, U.S.A
+1 202.715.3030