10 Jobs Impacted by Coronavirus That Recovered in June Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.
10 Occupations Affected by the Coronavirus That Bounced Back in June
Unemployment rate for workers 55 and older drops to 9 7 percent
J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images Since states and cities started to deter the spread of the coronavirus, more people have returned to work. In June the unemployment rate for adults age 55 and older dropped to 9.7 percent, a decrease from 11.8 percent one month earlier, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. The monthly BLS report shows encouraging signs that the labor market is starting to bounce back. The nation added 4.8 million jobs in June, making the overall unemployment rate 11.1 percent, down from 13.3 percent in May. There were, however, still 3.65 million people age 55 and older who were unemployed in June. And during the second week of July, another 1.3 million workers filed first-time unemployment claims, bring the total during the pandemic to more than 50 million. "As with the job market more broadly, the unemployment rate for more senior workers is down from recent highs but still very much elevated,” says Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst for Bankrate. “The dividing line between employed and unemployed during this downturn has been more about sectors involved than age." In fact, many of the positions added in June were in fields that were hit hard with job losses earlier in the pandemic and that may struggle once more as states begin to enact restrictions on businesses once more to stem the coronavirus. Even so, there has been notable progress in getting people back to work. Here are 10 occupations that bounced back in June. 1 Leisure and hospitality workers
June employment: 2,088,000 jobs added May employment: 1,403,000 jobs added April employment: 7,575,000 jobs lost "Leisure and hospitality, including bars and restaurants, and retailing have been on the leading edge of the rise in joblessness,” Hamrick says. “As restrictions have lifted and, in some cases, returned again more recently with , there's been a reversal of the earlier negative trends along with risk of renewed unemployment." 2 Retail workers
June employment: 739,800 jobs added May employment: 371,500 jobs added April employment: 2,299,000 jobs lost In June many state and local governments began to ease the restrictions they placed on nonessential stores and showplaces to deter the spread of the coronavirus. As a result, thousands of workers were able to either return to their jobs or find new positions in sales. According to BLS data, roughly 7.9 million people age 55 and older work in sales. Are you looking for your next job? Find it on 3 Health care and social assistance workers
June employment: 474,900 jobs added May employment: 369,500 jobs added April employment: 2,135,500 jobs lost Early in the pandemic, many hospitals and health care facilities suspended elective medical procedures so valuable resources could be focused on those who had been infected with the coronavirus. In recent months some facilities have resumed these procedures, bringing back their workers. According to a study from the Center for Economic and Policy Research, 34.6 percent of health care workers are age 50 and older. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > 5 Professional and business services workers
June employment: 306,000 jobs added May employment: 160,000 jobs added April employment: 2,202,000 jobs lost More office workers have started to return to their jobs as local governments have begun to ease restrictions. They may find that their workplace has changed because of the to protect their employees and clients. Many peoples are wondering whether it is . Advocates for workers have offered guidance on what employers may require their staff to do during the pandemic. 6 Construction workers
June employment: 158,000 jobs added May employment: 453,000 jobs added April employment: 1,018,000 jobs lost Construction projects are beginning to resume as restrictions to deter the spread of COVID-19 have been lifted. Before the pandemic the BLS had cited construction and building inspectors as among the . Indeed, more than 2.6 million people 55 and older worked in these fields in 2016. 7 Transportation and warehousing workers
June employment: 98,700 jobs added May employment: 28,300 jobs lost April employment: 559,800 jobs lost Many older adults work in transportation occupations, or driving for Uber or another ride-hailing service. As daily activities resume across the country, the need for transportation workers to help people and goods get to their destinations is increasing. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. were particularly sought after earlier this year, because states needed their help with antiquated computer systems used to process unemployment claims. Editor’s note: This article, originally published on July 2, 2020, has been updated with new information about weekly first-time unemployment claims. More on work AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS