COVID-19

Message from Heartland Forward's President and CEO - Ross DeVol

As states continue to reopen their economies, insured unemployment rates fell in 37 states, indicating that fewer workers are receiving unemployment insurance benefits. However, 13 states saw their insured unemployment rate increase, and factors like limited capacity requirements at restaurants and retailers, consumer fears, and supply chain disruptions continued to weigh down employment growth.

This week’s report revealed that roughly 1.9 million initial claims for unemployment insurance were filed the week ending May 23, 2020. An additional 1.2 million claims were filed for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

This week’s report revealed that nearly 2.44 million initial claims for unemployment insurance were filed the week ending May 16, 2020. An additional 2.23 million initial claims were filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which covers self-employed, contract and part-time workers. Thirty-two states saw their insured unemployment rates drop.

This week’s report revealed that nearly 2.98 million initial claims for unemployment insurance were filed the week ending May 9, 2020. Nineteen states saw their continued claims fall, suggesting that people may be going back to work in those states.

This week’s report revealed that nearly 3.17 million initial claims for unemployment insurance were filed the week ending May 2, 2020, suggesting that tomorrow’s release of the April jobs report will reveal record job losses. Only 6 states realized an increase in initial claims, and these increases were much lower than in previous weeks ranging from 3,125 to 27,337.

This industry-specific platform provides a single source for recommendations on how you can help the Arkansas economy recover from the effects of COVID-19. The information provided here is based on science, data, and the decision making of our state leaders and industry experts. Working smart, safe, and together makes Arkansas Ready for Business.

Manufacturing faces increased job losses due to COVID-19, but this presents the industry an opportunity to re-evaluate supply chains, introduce new products, and innovate – to leverage the Heartland’s resources and build resilient economies.

Initial unemployment claims continue to rise, though at a slower rate for the 3rd week in a row. Enhanced unemployment benefits pose a challenge to reopening the economy.

In addition to our analysis on initial and cumulative unemployment insurance claims by state, we introduce analysis on insured unemployment rates by state to better monitor responses to states that are reopening their economies.

New weekly unemployment insurance claims continue to moderate, but remain at levels unseen before the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, new claims filed since March 1st are now above 20 percent of pre-outbreak employment in some states.


Michigan has been hit particularly hard, with the worst mortality rate in the country and the second-worst share of pre-outbreak employment that have filed unemployment insurance claims.

Because of the digital divide, not all parts of U.S. have benefited from the utility of broadband connectivity during the coronavirus pandemic

New weekly unemployment insurance claims have come down slightly from last week's record-setting levels. Looking at the unemployment insurance data and data on confirmed COVID-19 cases, Louisiana is being severely impacted from both a health and economic perspective.

New unemployment insurance claims rose again for the U.S. and most states, as the fallout from the coronavirus continues.

Ross DeVol
The most extensive negative consequences of COVID-19 on the Heartland will be attributable to the related, but indirect impacts, of reduced oil and gas exploration and extraction operations

The Heartland is home to a significant portion of the United State’s airlines and aerospace manufacturing. Given the huge drop-off in airline travel and the significant role that travel, tourism, airlines, and aerospace manufacturing play in the Heartland's economy, we wanted to dive into this area further.

The economic slowdown resulting from the coronavirus outbreak has led to massive increases in new unemployment insurance claims

How COVID-19 will impact communities in the Heartland and beyond, and how policymakers can respond

Recent federal changes to the unemployment insurance (UI) program authorized employee eligibility under certain conditions related to COVID-19

The contributors address a fundamental topic for future economic success
in the Heartland: Will Millennials return and remain at higher rates?

How a Chinese economic slowdown could impact a vulnerable Heartland trucking industry