The coronavirus pandemic has created enormous changes in employment and income for all Americans. From just March to April, more jobs were lost than had been gained over the past two decades. While the economy has rebounded somewhat from its low of 133.4 million employed in April to 143.5 million in July, the months-long pandemic has shocked the economy more than the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009.
In the Great Recession and the most recent economic downturn, job losses affected an economy that already has disparate employment and income outcomes by race. In both cases, these disparities have been exacerbated, with minorities often losing the most.
