The impacts of COVID-19 have roiled employment numbers for the last several months. Numbers jumped from 4.4% in March to 14.7% in April, and came down slightly in May to 13.3% according to the latest numbers released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
In addition to overall employment numbers that show the depth of job loss, the BLS uses diffusion indexes measuring changes to employment across private industries to determine the extent of economic strength across job sectors. The higher the number over 50, the more jobs added to industries; the lower the number under 50, the more jobs that shed across a wide number of industries. The diffusion index for the U.S. in April for total private industries was 3.9; in May, it jumped to 64. During the Great Recession, the lowest the index reached was 15.5.
To better understand how COVID-19 is impacting employment across America, Stacker used the latest jobs report released by the BLS on June 5, 2020, to identify the industries that lost the biggest percentage share of employment from February through May of this year. A combination of broad and detailed industry groupings is included to demonstrate the range of impact—from groupings like food services and drinking places that employ millions to smaller groups like scenic and sightseeing transportation that employ tens of thousands. While this is the most recent data available, reported figures may lag real employment numbers as new workers file for unemployment on a weekly basis.
Keep reading to see how various industries have been affected by the widespread loss of jobs in the U.S.
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -8.7% (35,200 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -4.0% (15,300 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 369,300
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -8.7% (84,500 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -0.5% (4,500 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 885,700
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -8.7% (23,000 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -2.4% (5,900 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 240,300
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -8.8% (239,100 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +2.1% (51,300 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 2,483,800
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -9.0% (44,200 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -0.3% (1,500 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 448,400
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -9.0% (69,300 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +3.1% (20,700 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 696,800
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -9.3% (201,900 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +3.6% (68,400 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 1,976,900
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -9.4% (759,200 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -4.1% (309,900 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 7,282,800
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -10.0% (32,600 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -0.6% (1,700 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 292,700
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -10.4% (64,800 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +5.9% (31,000 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 558,100
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -10.6% (39,600 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -2.7% (9,400 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 333,100
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -10.7% (266,300 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -2.8% (63,300 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 2,223,600
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -10.8% (31,200 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +0.2% (400 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 258,400
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -11.8% (13,100 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +13.5% (11,700 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 98,200
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -11.8% (90,500 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +0.2% (1,300 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 673,300
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -12.0% (126,700 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -2.3% (21,600 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 931,600
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -12.0% (165,300 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +6.8% (77,200 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 1,213,300
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -12.5% (8,100 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -3.7% (2,200 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 56,800
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -12.8% (111,600 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +0.1% (900 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 757,800
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -12.9% (18,700 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -0.2% (200 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 126,400
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -13.4% (46,000 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +3.2% (9,100 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 296,300
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -14.5% (55,900 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +6.8% (20,900 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 330,500
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -15.3% (63,700 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +4.9% (16,400 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 353,500
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -15.4% (317,400 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +3.4% (57,800 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 1,746,300
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -15.8% (51,200 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +2.4% (6,400 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 272,300
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -16.2% (160,300 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +9.7% (73,100 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 827,500
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -17.0% (18,100 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +3.4% (2,900 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 88,400
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -17.9% (104,400 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +4.5% (20,800 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 480,400
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -19.9% (64,800 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +0.9% (2,300 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 261,200
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -21.8% (379,600 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +1.9% (26,000 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 1,363,300
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -23.9% (53,200 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -3.1% (5,400 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 169,300
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -25.0% (128,000 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -11.6% (50,300 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 383,200
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -26.5% (966,800 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +1.6% (41,300 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 2,683,400
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -27.1% (222,100 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +10.0% (54,500 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 598,300
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -27.3% (28,700 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +20.2% (12,800 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 76,300
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -28.6% (135,700 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -21.8% (94,700 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 339,600
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -30.2% (52,900 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -3.2% (4,100 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 122,300
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -30.5% (297,500 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +56.3% (244,800 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 679,500
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -31.1% (170,900 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +10.6% (36,200 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 378,900
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -31.4% (326,000 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +6.6% (44,400 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 712,600
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -35.2% (179,000 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +3.2% (10,100 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 329,200
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -37.8% (177,800 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +16.0% (40,400 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 292,900
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -38.0% (4,681,200 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +21.9% (1,370,600 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 7,621,900
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -43.3% (665,000 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +26.4% (182,300 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 872,200
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -48.1% (246,100 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -1.8% (4,800 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 265,600
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- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -50.7% (1,060,700 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -12.6% (148,200 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 1,030,300
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -52.8% (240,900 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): -4.7% (10,700 jobs lost)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 215,400
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -53.1% (19,500 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +32.3% (4,200 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 17,200
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -53.9% (694,200 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +19.0% (94,800 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 594,900
- 3-month employment change (Feb. 2020 to May 2020): -56.1% (1,001,200 jobs lost)
- 1-month employment change (Apr. 2020 to May 2020): +3.5% (26,400 jobs gained)
- Total unemployment May 2020: 784,300
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