Labor force participation took a big hit from the pandemic. How then should we interpret states’ reported unemployment rates?
Educational attainment has increased across the Fifth District, but there are large geographic and racial disparities, according to the 2019 American Community Survey estimates.
This article provides some history on the evolution of the Fifth District population across race and the rural-urban continuum since the late 1800s.
The most recent stimulus bill extends many 2020 changes to the unemployment insurance program but reduces the supplement to weekly benefits.
Fifth District business surveys indicate that after a volatile year, firms remain uncertain about when or if they will return to pre-COVID levels of business activity.