vox--2020-05-05--Why the Covid-19 economy is devastating to millennials, in 14 charts

The economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic is immense , with tens of millions unemployed and the US economy shrinking at a rate unseen in more than a decade .
Global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund are warning that Covid-19 could trigger a global economic slowdown comparable only to the Great Depression .
One of the groups likely to suffer the most is millennials , many of whom have yet to fully recover from the Great Recession .
“ One thing we know is that younger workers who were more fragile are already being more hard hit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but at least they had that wealth cushion , ” the Atlantic ’ s Annie Lowrey told Vox ’ s Sean Illing recently .
Millennials , often categorized as people born between 1980 and 1997 , are economically vulnerable in part because they are an incredibly diverse generation , with about 55 percent being people of color .
This diversity suggests that their economic situation is more broadly affected by financial inequalities than older generations .
In general , recent polls reveal that millennials — of all backgrounds — are experiencing high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their economic realities .
For instance , a poll from the Pew Research Center conducted from April 7 to 12 ( among 4,917 adults , with a 2.1 percentage point margin of error ) found American millennials to be the most pessimistic of any age group about the future of the economy .
When asked whether the economy would be better or worse in one year , Americans over age 65 were the most optimistic , with 69 percent saying things would improve .
But millennials were more likely to believe that things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not good now , as Vox ’ s Emily Stewart has explained ) or even worse .
The majority of those between ages 18 and 29 said things would be the same or worse — 57 percent — as did 48 percent of those between ages 30 and 49 .
Adding to millennials ’ economic anxiety seems to be concerns about basic needs , including covering the costs of food and shelter .
In early April , 60 percent of millennial-registered voters told pollsters at Quinnipiac University that the pandemic has them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rent or mortgage , or medical expenses .
Millennials have every reason to be concerned , about their present and their future .
Here are 14 charts that show why : More young people have been laid off — and many of those still with jobs have had to take pay cuts To get a sense of what things are like now , and how millennials are affected by cuts to their work hours , it ’ s helpful to look at this chart , from the Pew Research Center : This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll of 4,917 adults ( taken from April 7 to 12 , with a 2.1 percentage point margin of error ) shows those between ages 18 and 29 have been the most affected by layoffs , with 35 percent saying they ’ ve lost their job .
That cohort has been most affected by pay cuts as well , with 45 percent reporting reduced wages .
Older millennials , who are entering their peak earning years , make up the second most affected group — 30 percent said they ’ ve been fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been cut .
Overall , a PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist College poll found , with a 3.8 percentage point margin of error , that 55 percent of Americans under the age of 45 had either had their hours cut , been laid off , or been furloughed as of April 26 .
Millennials of color have been particularly affected by layoffs .
The unemployment rate for people of color was higher than it was for white Americans before the pandemic hit the US , and from February to March , it rose more sharply .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Statistics , black Americans saw a 0.9 percentage point increase , Latinx Americans a 1.6 percentage point increase , Asian Americans a 1.6 percentage point increase , and white Americans , a 0.9 percentage point increase .
Essentially , those making the least — including black and Latinx millennials — were more likely to be laid off than those making more .
It isn ’ t by chance that millennials are the group most affected by layoffs , furloughs , and wage reductions — and it appears that the jobs many worked were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counter the pandemic .
Every industry has been affected by layoffs , but looking at the data from March , it is clear that the leisure and hospitality industry ( which includes hotels and restaurants ) alone lost 459,000 jobs .
In March , the sectors with the greatest job losses were in leisure and hospitality ; health care and social services ; professional services ( like consulting , administrative , and IT roles ) ; and retail sectors .
And all four of those rely heavily on millennial labor .
As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the leisure and hospitality sector are majority millennial — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , in 2019 , 58.5 percent of “ accommodation and food services ” workers were between the ages of 20 and 44 ( with another 15.9 percent being under age 20 ) .
And 52.9 percent of those employed in the “ arts , entertainment , and recreation ” industries ( which include professional sports , museums , and concert venues ) were between 20 and 44 .
Some industries with older workers — like farming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March .
But as Vox ’ s Matt Yglesias has noted , even as stay-at-home measures are relaxed , the millennial-heavy industries will likely be slowest to return to their former levels of profitability .
People still need houses and apartments — a sector dominated by older Americans — amid the pandemic .
But it isn ’ t clear there will be much appetite for dining or attending large sporting events anytime soon , meaning millennials working in the most affected sectors may face financial difficulties in the immediate future .
Millennials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to student debt Layoffs , furloughs , and wage cuts due to the pandemic have stressed many households — particularly considering that Americans , in general , were dealing with nearly $ 15 trillion in debt : Where older and younger Americans differ is that older Americans are more likely to have debt due to assets like homes that could , theoretically , be liquidated if times get tough .
Most younger Americans , however , have much of their debt tied up in an asset that has no immediate value : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millennials have debt due to both . )
What neither of these charts tells us is the scale of millennials ’ student loan debt burden .
Looking just at federal student loans — which make up 92 percent of all student loans — the Department of Education found that Americans 24 or younger had $ 116 billion in debt at the end of 2019 ; those 25 to 34 had $ 498 billion ; and those 35 to 49 had $ 581 billion .
People above the age of 50 , on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in student loans .
On average , millennials owed somewhere between $ 5,000 and $ 60,000 in student debt , and studies have found that debt comes with a cost .
University of Wisconsin researchers Fenaba R. Addo and Yiling Zhang noted just how burdensome that debt can be in an essay in the 2019 series “ The Emerging Millennial Wealth Gap ” from the New America think tank : “ It is not surprising that the median wealth of all Millennials with any debt at age 30 is lower than those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , their median wealth levels are also lower than young adults who never attended college.
” Many millennials took on college debt with the assumption that borrowing heavily while young would lead to higher wages as one aged .
But given the high — and growing — cost of college education , younger millennials found themselves needing to wait longer than older millennials to see those benefits .
And now , the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic raises the question of whether those benefits will ever materialize .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more true for millennials of color .
Wage gaps and heavier student loan burdens could make the pandemic more difficult for millennials of color As is the case with health outcomes , the pandemic has revealed longstanding economic disparities .
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in the first quarter of 2020 , the median pay for a black male worker between the ages of 25 and 54 was $ 891 per week ; for a Latino man of the same age , it was $ 796 a week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ same age averaged $ 1,128 per week .
Women of all three racial groups made less than the average white man , with white women making $ 906 , black women making $ 767 , and Latina women making $ 701 .
People of color — particularly women of color — are more likely to hold jobs deemed essential , meaning they are more likely to be risking their lives than white men , all while being underpaid .
And for those millennials of color who are unemployed or furloughed , unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per unemployment check provided by the CARES Act ) are calculated based on one ’ s former weekly earnings .
This means these preexisting wage gaps will only exacerbate inequality at a particularly trying time , as Americans of color can expect to receive smaller unemployment benefits on average than white Americans .
This also means that millennials of color who attended college face a compound problem — first , they make less , making their degrees less valuable .
Second , they , particularly black students , borrowed heavily to earn those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay off .
Data collected by New America ’ s Wesley Whistle found that in 2016 , 84 percent of black college-goers had taken out student loans , compared to 67 percent of white students .
And even before the coronavirus began affecting wages , these two factors caused black — and Latinx — college students to have more trouble than their white peers with staying current on their loan payments .
In 2018 , the Federal Reserve found that 28 percent of black Americans ages 18 to 29 with student loans had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had 15 percent of Latinx college students in the same age range .
By comparison , 7 percent of white 18- to 29-year-olds with debt were behind .
And this was when the economy was doing “ well.
” People of color are more affected in general — and that means more financial stress for millennials Not all states have broken down their confirmed coronavirus case data by ethnicity , but a number of particularly hard-hit cities and states have , including Illinois , Michigan , and New York .
And their numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected by Covid-19 — particularly those between the ages of 18 and 49 , as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows : Some states have broken down this data further .
Illinois , for instance , tracks confirmed cases based on age and ethnicity and found ( where race and ethnicity information is available ) that black and Latinx millennials are at particular risk for the disease .
Looking at available data , Latinx Illinoisans appear at particular risk compared to people of other ethnic backgrounds , with Latinx millennials ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases as of May 4 .
All of this adds to the economic stress millennials — particularly millennials of color — were already facing .
Coronavirus testing is free , but any hospitalizations or emergency room visits related to coronavirus care are not .
The average Covid-19-related hospital stay for an insured person is believed to be about $ 30,000 , according to the trade group America ’ s Health Insurance Plans .
An analysis from FAIR Health , a nonprofit focused on the cost of care , found those without insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are — can expect to pay between $ 42,486 and $ 74,310 .
And coronavirus costs don ’ t just fall on those who have the virus .
They also disproportionately affect non-infected millennials of color who find themselves with unexpected hospital — and even funeral and interment — expenses for older family members .
Death data is still incomplete , but what we have shows that black Americans make up one-third of all US coronavirus deaths , according to the Associated Press .
Notably , the US is about 13 percent black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data are 14 percent black .
A 2019 Federal Reserve study found that 39 percent of Americans would not be able to weather a $ 400 emergency , and an SSRS/Bankrate poll conducted in January ( with a 3.39 percent margin of error ) found that 59 percent of Americans would be unable to cover a $ 1,000 emergency .
Coronavirus-related health and end-of-life costs are far higher — they would be ruinous for many Americans in the best of times .
That they would seem to disproportionately fall on those more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to have heavier than average student loan burdens , makes them more onerous .
Millennials delayed home buying , which means they don ’ t have stable equity With fewer resources , millennials have delayed buying homes — again , assets that for older Americans provide some measure of economic security amid sudden downturns like those created by the pandemic .
An analysis from Deutsche Bank shows that the median age of Americans buying homes increased sharply following the Great Recession .
In 2009 , the median home-buying age was about 39 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the ages of 22 and 39 , the median age of homebuyers was 47 .
Homeownership has been particularly difficult for black millennials .
A 2019 report by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers found that 16 percent of black millennials owned homes in 2017 , compared to 46 percent of white millennials , 34 percent of Asian American millennials , and 29 percent of Latinx millennials .
The report ’ s authors found that even prior to the pandemic , fewer than 40 percent of black millennials were expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 50 .
All this means that few millennials will exit the pandemic with an asset they can liquidate or leverage for loans , making their recovery all the more difficult — and making them all the more vulnerable to the next recession .
Millennials never really recovered from the Great Recession — and this time is looking worse The Great Recession hit millennials really hard .
They faced a sharp increase in unemployment , as this chart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics illustrates : That chart only includes people born in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is reflective of the trends among all millennials — by the time the recession eased in 2010 , the Pew Research Center ’ s Drew DeSilver notes , unemployment was at 15.5 percent for Americans ages 20 to 24 .
In the decade after , millennials struggled to recover .
A 2018 study by the St. Louis Federal Reserve found that while older Americans recovered in the years following the recession , millennials continued to sustain economic losses , so much so that by 2016 , the median wealth of a household headed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than historical models suggested it should have been .
Part of this is due to a decline in millennial income — the St. Louis Fed found that the median income for millennials was 10 percent lower in 2016 than it was pre-recession in 2007 .
Also contributing to a decline in net worth , the study ’ s authors note , is that millennials were in a poor position to capitalize on some of the opportunities that allowed older Americans to rebound more quickly , such as low stock and property prices .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a period of high unemployment and low demand for workers , and found their wages depressed ; a 2017 study by the advocacy group Young Invincibles found millennials to have median wages 20 percent lower than Americans of the boomer generation did at their age .
Research shows that income levels began to recover for some millennials by 2016 .
The average millennial college graduate was making about 7 percent more than expected by then , according to the 2019 New America report .
Millennials who didn ’ t go to college , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than expected .
And as one might expect from the wage gap discussed before , there was a disparity in the recovery by ethnicity , leading to a larger racial wealth gap than existed previously .
In the New America report , Reid Cramer notes , “ The racial wealth gap in 2016 is larger than it was in the early 2000s , when the average non-Hispanic White household had ‘ only ’ six to seven times the wealth of the average African American household.
” The Federal Reserve studied the racial wealth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ net worth of a white American family was $ 171,000 .
The median net worth of black and Latinx families , however , was $ 17,600 and 20,700 , respectively .
Or , to compare as Reid did , the average white family had about 10 times the wealth of the average black family , and about 8.5 times as much as the average Latinx family .
Reid also notes that far more black and Latinx families have zero or negative net worths than white families — nearly 20 percent of black families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This wealth gap — and millennials ’ difficulties in building wealth in general — is likely to be exacerbated by the pandemic .
As Vox ’ s Emily Stewart has written , the US is already in a recession , and one analysts expect to become worse .
Morgan Stanley has said investors should expect US GDP to fall by 37.9 percent in the second quarter of the year .
Whether the economy will improve after that is a matter of debate .
But even if it does , lasting damage will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , among the most affected .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
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Your financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
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The economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic is immense, with tens of millions unemployed and the US economy shrinking at a rate unseen in more than a decade. Global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund are warning that Covid-19 could trigger a global economic slowdown comparable only to the Great Depression.
One of the groups likely to suffer the most is millennials, many of whom have yet to fully recover from the Great Recession.
“One thing we know is that younger workers who were more fragile are already being more hard hit. Older folks will suffer greater wealth losses, but at least they had that wealth cushion,” the Atlantic’s Annie Lowrey told Vox’s Sean Illing recently.
Millennials, often categorized as people born between 1980 and 1997, are economically vulnerable in part because they are an incredibly diverse generation, with about 44 percent being people of color. This diversity suggests that their economic situation is more broadly affected by financial inequalities than older generations.
In general, recent polls reveal that millennials — of all backgrounds — are experiencing high anxiety around how the coronavirus will affect their economic realities. For instance, a poll from the Pew Research Center conducted from April 7 to 12 (among 4,917 adults, with a 2.1 percentage point margin of error) found American millennials to be the most pessimistic of any age group about the future of the economy.
When asked whether the economy would be better or worse in one year, Americans over age 65 were the most optimistic, with 69 percent saying things would improve. But millennials were more likely to believe that things would be the same (and they are not good now, as Vox’s Emily Stewart has explained) or even worse. The majority of those between ages 18 and 29 said things would be the same or worse — 57 percent — as did 48 percent of those between ages 30 and 49.
Adding to millennials’ economic anxiety seems to be concerns about basic needs, including covering the costs of food and shelter. In early April, 60 percent of millennial-registered voters told pollsters at Quinnipiac University that the pandemic has them concerned about being unable to afford food, rent or mortgage, or medical expenses.
Millennials have every reason to be concerned, about their present and their future. Here are 14 charts that show why:
More young people have been laid off — and many of those still with jobs have had to take pay cuts
To get a sense of what things are like now, and how millennials and Gen Z adults are affected by cuts to their work hours, it’s helpful to look at this chart, from the Pew Research Center:
This chart, based on data from a poll of 4,917 adults (taken from April 7 to 12, with a 2.1 percentage point margin of error) shows those between ages 18 and 29 have been the most affected by layoffs, with 35 percent saying they or someone in their household has lost their job. That cohort has been most affected by pay cuts as well, with 45 percent reporting reduced wages in their household.
Older millennials, who are entering their peak earning years, make up the second most affected group — 30 percent said they or someone in their household have lost their job and 39 percent said wages in the household have been cut.
Overall, a PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist College poll found, with a 3.8 percentage point margin of error, that 55 percent of Americans under the age of 45 had either had hours cut, been laid off, or been furloughed as of April 26.
Millennials of color have been particularly affected by layoffs. The unemployment rate for people of color was higher than it was for white Americans before the pandemic hit the US, and from February to March, it rose more sharply. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, black Americans saw a 0.9 percentage point increase, Latinx Americans a 1.6 percentage point increase, Asian Americans a 1.6 percentage point increase, and white Americans, a 0.9 percentage point increase.
Essentially, those making the least — including black and Latinx millennials — were more likely to be laid off than those making more.
It isn’t by chance that millennials are the group most affected by layoffs, furloughs, and wage reductions — and it appears that the jobs many worked were especially vulnerable to the restrictions needed to counter the pandemic.
Millennials disproportionately work in the industries hit hardest
Every industry has been affected by layoffs, but looking at the data from March, it is clear that the leisure and hospitality industry (which includes hotels and restaurants) alone lost 459,000 jobs.
In March, the sectors with the greatest job losses were in leisure and hospitality; health care and social services; professional services (like consulting, administrative, and IT roles); and retail sectors. And all four of those rely heavily on millennial labor.
As the above chart shows, industries that fall under the leisure and hospitality sector are majority millennial — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, 58.5 percent of “accommodation and food services” workers were between the ages of 20 and 44 (with another 15.9 percent being under age 20). And 52.9 percent of those employed in the “arts, entertainment, and recreation” industries (which include professional sports, museums, and concert venues) were between 20 and 44.
Some industries with older workers — like farming — are clearly suffering more now than in March. But as Vox’s Matt Yglesias has noted, even as stay-at-home measures are relaxed, the millennial-heavy industries will likely be slowest to return to their former levels of profitability. People still need houses and apartments — a sector dominated by older Americans — amid the pandemic. But it isn’t clear there will be much appetite for dining or attending large sporting events anytime soon, meaning millennials working in the most affected sectors may face financial difficulties in the immediate future.
Millennials were in bad shape before the pandemic due to student debt
Layoffs, furloughs, and wage cuts due to the pandemic have stressed many households — particularly considering that Americans, in general, were dealing with nearly $15 trillion in debt:
Where older and younger Americans differ is that older Americans are more likely to have debt due to assets like homes that could, theoretically, be liquidated if times get tough. Most younger Americans, however, have much of their debt tied up in an asset that has no immediate value: their college education. (And older millennials have debt due to both.)
What neither of these charts tells us is the scale of millennials’ student loan debt burden. Looking just at federal student loans — which make up 92 percent of all student loans — the Department of Education found that Americans 24 or younger had $116 billion in debt at the end of 2019; those 25 to 34 had $498 billion; and those 35 to 49 had $581 billion. People above the age of 50, on the other hand, owed about $323 billion in student loans.
On average, millennials owed somewhere between $5,000 and $60,000 in student debt, and studies have found that debt comes with a cost. University of Wisconsin researchers Fenaba R. Addo and Yiling Zhang noted just how burdensome that debt can be in an essay in the 2019 series “The Emerging Millennial Wealth Gap” from the New America think tank: “It is not surprising that the median wealth of all Millennials with any debt at age 30 is lower than those with no debt who attended college; however, their median wealth levels are also lower than young adults who never attended college.”
Many millennials took on college debt with the assumption that borrowing heavily while young would lead to higher wages as one aged. But given the high — and growing — cost of college education, younger millennials found themselves needing to wait longer than older millennials to see those benefits. And now, the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic raises the question of whether those benefits will ever materialize. This is true for millennials broadly, but even more true for millennials of color.
Wage gaps and heavier student loan burdens could make the pandemic more difficult for millennials of color
As is the case with health outcomes, the pandemic has revealed longstanding economic disparities.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in the first quarter of 2020, the median pay for a black male worker between the ages of 25 and 54 was $891 per week; for a Latino man of the same age, it was $796 a week. Meanwhile, a white man of the same age averaged $1,128 per week. Women of all three racial groups made less than the average white man, with white women making $906, black women making $767, and Latina women making $701.
People of color — particularly women of color — are more likely to hold jobs deemed essential, meaning they are more likely to be risking their lives than white men, all while being underpaid.
And for those millennials of color who are unemployed or furloughed, unemployment benefits (not counting the temporary $600 per unemployment check provided by the CARES Act) are calculated based on one’s former weekly earnings. This means these preexisting wage gaps will only exacerbate inequality at a particularly trying time, as Americans of color can expect to receive smaller unemployment benefits on average than white Americans.
This also means that millennials of color who attended college face a compound problem — first, they make less, making their degrees less valuable. Second, they, particularly black students, borrowed heavily to earn those degrees, and therefore have more to pay off. Data collected by New America’s Wesley Whistle found that in 2016, 84 percent of black college-goers had taken out student loans, compared to 67 percent of white students.
And even before the coronavirus began affecting wages, these two factors caused black — and Latinx — college students to have more trouble than their white peers with staying current on their loan payments. In 2018, the Federal Reserve found that 28 percent of black Americans ages 18 to 29 with student loans had fallen behind in their payments, as had 15 percent of Latinx college students in the same age range. By comparison, 7 percent of white 18- to 29-year-olds with debt were behind. And this was when the economy was doing “well.”
People of color are more affected in general — and that means more financial stress for millennials
Not all states have broken down their confirmed coronavirus case data by ethnicity, but a number of particularly hard-hit cities and states have, including Illinois, Michigan, and New York. And their numbers show black and Latinx Americans being disproportionately affected by Covid-19 — particularly those between the ages of 18 and 49, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows:
The latest CDC #COVIDView report with new hospitalization data on race/ethnicity by age is now available https://t.co/zP4VYlo0Pb pic.twitter.com/HgstCJ7tO9 — CDC (@CDCgov) April 24, 2020
Some states have broken down this data further. Illinois, for instance, tracks confirmed cases based on age and ethnicity and found (where race and ethnicity information is available) that black and Latinx millennials are at particular risk for the disease.
Looking at available data, Latinx Illinoisans appear at particular risk compared to people of other ethnic backgrounds, with Latinx millennials ages 20 to 29 having more than 2,459 confirmed cases as of May 4.
All of this adds to the economic stress millennials — particularly millennials of color — were already facing. Coronavirus testing is free, but any hospitalizations or emergency room visits related to coronavirus care are not. The average Covid-19-related hospital stay for an insured person is believed to be about $30,000, according to the trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans. An analysis from FAIR Health, a nonprofit focused on the cost of care, found those without insurance — as about 16 percent of millennials are — can expect to pay between $42,486 and $74,310.
And coronavirus costs don’t just fall on those who have the virus. They also disproportionately affect non-infected millennials of color who find themselves with unexpected hospital — and even funeral and interment — expenses for older family members. Death data is still incomplete, but what we have shows that black Americans make up one-third of all US coronavirus deaths, according to the Associated Press. Notably, the US is about 13 percent black; the areas covered by the incomplete data are 14 percent black.
A 2019 Federal Reserve study found that 39 percent of Americans would not be able to weather a $400 emergency, and an SSRS/Bankrate poll conducted in January (with a 3.39 percent margin of error) found that 59 percent of Americans would be unable to cover a $1,000 emergency. Coronavirus-related health and end-of-life costs are far higher — they would be ruinous for many Americans in the best of times. That they would seem to disproportionately fall on those more likely to be furloughed or laid off, and to have heavier than average student loan burdens, makes them more onerous.
Millennials delayed home buying, which means they don’t have stable equity
With fewer resources, millennials have delayed buying homes — again, assets that for older Americans provide some measure of economic security amid sudden downturns like those created by the pandemic.
An analysis from Deutsche Bank shows that the median age of Americans buying homes increased sharply following the Great Recession. In 2009, the median home-buying age was about 39. In 2019, when millennials were between the ages of 22 and 39, the median age of homebuyers was 47.
Homeownership has been particularly difficult for black millennials. A 2019 report by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers found that 16 percent of black millennials owned homes in 2017, compared to 46 percent of white millennials, 34 percent of Asian American millennials, and 29 percent of Latinx millennials. The report’s authors found that even prior to the pandemic, fewer than 40 percent of black millennials were expected to own a home by the time they were 50.
All this means that few millennials will exit the pandemic with an asset they can liquidate or leverage for loans, making their recovery all the more difficult — and making them all the more vulnerable to the next recession.
Millennials never really recovered from the Great Recession — and this time is looking worse
The Great Recession hit millennials really hard. They faced a sharp increase in unemployment, as this chart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics illustrates:
That chart only includes people born in 1980 and ’81, but it is reflective of the trends among all millennials — by the time the recession eased in 2010, the Pew Research Center’s Drew DeSilver notes, unemployment was at 15.5 percent for Americans ages 20 to 24.
In the decade after, millennials struggled to recover. A 2018 study by the St. Louis Federal Reserve found that while older Americans recovered in the years following the recession, millennials continued to sustain economic losses, so much so that by 2016, the median wealth of a household headed by a millennial was 34 percent lower than historical models suggested it should have been.
Part of this is due to a decline in millennial income — the St. Louis Fed found that the median income for millennials was 10 percent lower in 2016 than it was pre-recession in 2007. Also contributing to a decline in net worth, the study’s authors note, is that millennials were in a poor position to capitalize on some of the opportunities that allowed older Americans to rebound more quickly, such as low stock and property prices.
They also entered a job market during a period of high unemployment and low demand for workers, and found their wages depressed; a 2017 study by the advocacy group Young Invincibles found millennials to have median wages 20 percent lower than Americans of the boomer generation did at their age.
Research shows that income levels began to recover for some millennials by 2016. The average millennial college graduate was making about 7 percent more than expected by then, according to the 2019 New America report. Millennials who didn’t go to college, however, made about 9 percent less than expected. And as one might expect from the wage gap discussed before, there was a disparity in the recovery by ethnicity, leading to a larger racial wealth gap than existed previously.
In the New America report, Reid Cramer notes, “The racial wealth gap in 2016 is larger than it was in the early 2000s, when the average non-Hispanic White household had ‘only’ six to seven times the wealth of the average African American household.”
The Federal Reserve studied the racial wealth gap in 2016 and found the median net worth of a white American family was $171,000. The median net worth of black and Latinx families, however, was $17,600 and 20,700, respectively. Or, to compare as Reid did, the average white family had about 10 times the wealth of the average black family, and about 8.5 times as much as the average Latinx family. Reid also notes that far more black and Latinx families have zero or negative net worths than white families — nearly 20 percent of black families, and 15 percent of Latinx families.
This wealth gap — and millennials’ difficulties in building wealth in general — is likely to be exacerbated by the pandemic. As Vox’s Emily Stewart has written, the US is already in a recession, and one analysts expect to become worse. Morgan Stanley has said investors should expect US GDP to fall by 37.9 percent in the second quarter of the year. Whether the economy will improve after that is a matter of debate. But even if it does, lasting damage will have been done, with millennials, again, among the most affected.


vox--2020-05-05--For immigrants without legal status, federal coronavirus relief is out of reach

Americans have relied on low-wage workers to keep essential services running during the pandemic , from harvesting and delivering food to cleaning public spaces .
But many of these workers who lack legal immigration status have done so without receiving any financial assistance from the federal government .
The $ 2 trillion CARES Act gives most taxpayers unemployment benefits and up to $ 1,200 in cash payments .
But even though the 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the US are no more immune to the effects of the current crisis , fearing for their livelihood and their health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unauthorized immigrants — who make up about a quarter of farmworkers and 8 percent of service sector and production workers — are typically ineligible for unemployment , but policies differ by state .
And even if they pay taxes , they also aren ’ t eligible for stimulus checks , which the government started sending out in April , because they don ’ t have Social Security numbers .
These exclusions impact not only the immigrants themselves , but also their families , including their US citizen spouses and children .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equalizer , ” Rosana Araujo , an undocumented immigrant and domestic worker living in South Florida , said .
“ Sure , it could be an equalizer in terms of how everyone shares anxiety .
But this actually exposes the deep inequalities our communities face .
They haven ’ t taken undocumented immigrants into account.
” Some cities and states have taken steps to bridge this gap in financial relief for these workers who have become critical to the US ’ s coronavirus response : California and New York City , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million and $ 20 million respectively to support unauthorized immigrants impacted by Covid-19 .
Advocates are putting pressure on Congress to offer such aid on a federal level , as well .
But absent further relief for the rest of the nation ’ s unauthorized immigrants , many won ’ t have any choice but to continue working despite public health warnings to stay home , which could further spread the virus and pose a risk to public health .
And should they contract the virus and have to seek medical care , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many unauthorized immigrants have no financial safety net While many immigrants are continuing to work in essential fields , ranging from medical care to cleaning to grocery stores , they are taking an economic hit like many other workers who are facing layoffs , furloughs , and pay cuts .
For Joel and Emilio , both unauthorized immigrants living in Panama City Beach , Florida , the pandemic has left them without full-time employment and unable to continue supporting their families in their home countries .
( They both asked to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect their privacy . )
Before the pandemic hit , Emilio and Joel were both working full-time on restoring hotels in the area as members of the organization Resilience Force , which helps rebuild homes and buildings devastated from natural disasters .
But they were furloughed amid the pandemic and now , they ’ re making a living by shopping and delivering groceries for Instacart .
They arrived in the US in 2018 .
Emilio , who is originally from Argentina , was seeking economic opportunity .
Joel was escaping the dictatorship of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is also an unauthorized immigrant , came to live with him the following year and was working at the same hotel as him before she was furloughed during the pandemic .
They always sent a portion of their paychecks home to their families .
Emilio was sending about $ 100 to $ 200 weekly to his mother , and Joel was sending money to his grandmother , but neither of them have been able to afford to do so for weeks .
“ It was completely terrible because I had normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened , I stopped having that income , ” Emilio said , adding that now , his earnings on Instacart are “ random and only by luck.
” Araujo said she has also been sending money to her two sisters and nephew back home in Uruguay .
She has been cleaning houses and warehouses ever since she left Uruguay in 2002 amid an economic crisis in the country .
But she ’ s been without work since early March , and she ’ s not expecting to be able to return to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nevertheless still sending even more money home these days because her family is also experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic .
Marisol Cruz , a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) program living in Long Beach , California , said she is also worried about financially supporting her family .
She has been able to continue working from home for her job at a nonprofit , but her parents , who don ’ t have legal status , have taken a big income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked in a factory producing T-shirts for sporting events , is without work and her mother , who cleans houses , has seen her hours reduced from four to two days a week .
Cruz has received a stimulus check because she files taxes with a Social Security number she obtained through DACA , which has allowed over 700,000 young undocumented immigrants to live and work in the US without fear of deportation .
But her parents aren ’ t eligible for the checks .
During her day job , Cruz has encountered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area who are similarly struggling financially .
She works for the Long Beach Immigration Rights Coalition , which recently created a $ 40,000 Covid-19 emergency fund for such families , much like similar relief funds administered by the states of New York and California .
But the organization received so many applicants that it will have to turn some down .
“ The pandemic has really brought to the forefront their lack of access to resources , ” she said .
Unauthorized immigrants are particularly vulnerable to the virus due to inadequate access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely to be uninsured compared to US citizens , which may dissuade them from seeking medical care if they contract the virus .
Neither Emilio nor Joel have health insurance , so they not only fear getting sick , but also the prospect of getting hit with huge medical bills should they need to be hospitalized .
And Joel is also worried about infecting his similarly uninsured mother , who suffers from hypertension and has had problems with her heart .
“ Every single day , I think this is a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m the only one that goes out on the street and if anyone would be infected , I would be the only one to bear the responsibility for that , ” he said .
“ This worries me a great deal because I am exposed to places that are very crowded .
Every morning when I leave and every evening when I arrive home , I pray to God that I will not be one more of those who becomes sick.
” Araujo is also worried about getting the treatment she needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her thyroid , but the hospital is no longer taking any cases that are unrelated to coronavirus and she can ’ t afford to go to a health clinic .
As a result , she couldn ’ t get medication prescribed and her joints started aching .
She ’ s concerned about returning to work and contracting the virus .
Her employers don ’ t give her protective equipment , and she can ’ t afford to spend $ 15 on a box of gloves that she won ’ t be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respiratory issues due to the use of chemical cleaning products that could put them at higher risk of complications from Covid-19 , the illness caused by coronavirus .
“ I ’ m living with paranoia because I don ’ t know when I ’ m going to be infected , ” she said .
“ I feel constantly exposed.
” US citizen spouses of unauthorized immigrants are also left out Congress has even barred many family members of unauthorized immigrants from receiving stimulus checks , even if they ’ re US citizens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of mixed immigration status , where some tax filers or their children may use what ’ s called an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number ( ITIN ) .
The IRS issues ITINs to unauthorized immigrants so they can pay taxes , even though they don ’ t have a Social Security number .
If anyone in the household uses an ITIN — either a spouse or a dependent child — that means no one in the household will qualify for the stimulus checks , unless one spouse served in the military in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legal Defense and Education Fund filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging the CARES Act , alleging that it “ discriminates against mixed-status couples ” in violation of the US Constitution ’ s equal protection and due process provisions .
But if the law is allowed to stand , it could impact an estimated 16.7 million people who live in mixed-status households nationwide , including 8.2 million US-born or naturalized citizens .
Sarah and her husband Juan , who asked to be identified only by their first names to protect their privacy , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana .
She is a born-and-raised US citizen , but he came to the US 14 years ago from Honduras without authorization , seeking to earn enough money to support his parents and siblings back home .
The couple married three years ago and shortly thereafter , she started the process of sponsoring him for a green card .
He ’ s still waiting for an interview at a consulate in Honduras , which has been postponed on account of the pandemic .
But if all goes to plan , he will soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social Security number .
In the meantime , however , Juan is still living in the US as an unauthorized immigrant , filing taxes under an ITIN .
Neither he nor Sarah , therefore , are eligible for stimulus checks .
It ’ s not causing them financial hardship .
Sarah is continuing to work from home during the pandemic , making $ 45,000 a year in medical billing .
And Juan chose to take a month off from his job in painting and construction because they feared he would contract the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back on the job .
She said that together , they make a decent living , but they do have a lot of expenses , including his biweekly $ 120 remittances for his family in Honduras so they can buy food and pay their water and electric bills .
Still , she ’ s angry that both she and her husband are being penalized amid the pandemic .
“ While not receiving the stimulus hasn ’ t been a burden , it feels like a slap in the face as a US citizen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ” she said .
“ I personally am not opposed to my tax dollars paying for undocumented immigrants receiving aid during this pandemic , but I can understand why our government wouldn ’ t do this .
But me ?
A US citizen ?
I ’ m insulted and angry .
I feel like my country does not care about me in the slightest.
” Immigrant work is going unrecognized in coronavirus relief bills As immigrants on the frontlines of the pandemic , Joel said he and his peers have gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has welcomed them .
He said he sees it as a “ way of returning the favor of being allowed to be here.
” “ I feel pride to at least collaborate and do this work of delivering food to many homes , for many people that can not leave their homes under any circumstances , especially the elderly , ” he said .
“ So , I feel very proud of that , and I would like that we would be recognized and that our work as immigrants could be recognized.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of uncertainty about his health , his mother ’ s health and his financial situation absent any support from the government or the US medical system : “ At night , I look around and realize that I don ’ t have any type of security that I will be ok or that nothing serious will happen.
” That ’ s why advocates are calling on Congress to include support for unauthorized immigrants in its next coronavirus relief package .
The Center for American Progress , a liberal think tank , is calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to testing and treatment for the virus , which will also help stop the spread of the pandemic .
It ’ s also pushing for all taxpayers to have access to expanded unemployment benefits and for all income-eligible residents to receive stimulus checks , regardless of immigration status .
“ If they pass another stimulus package , they have to include everyone that ’ s living in the country , ” Cruz said .
“ I just hope that they don ’ t think of relief as a political tool .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in them to provide life-saving assistance to families.
” Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

Americans have relied on low-wage workers to keep essential services running during the pandemic, from harvesting and delivering food to cleaning public spaces. But many of these workers who lack legal immigration status have done so without receiving any financial assistance from the federal government.
The $2 trillion CARES Act gives most taxpayers unemployment benefits and up to $1,200 in cash payments. But even though the 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the US are no more immune to the effects of the current crisis, fearing for their livelihood and their health, the bill has conspicuously omitted them.
Unauthorized immigrants — who make up about a quarter of farmworkers and 8 percent of service sector and production workers — are typically ineligible for unemployment, but policies differ by state. And even if they pay taxes, they also aren’t eligible for stimulus checks, which the government started sending out in April, because they don’t have Social Security numbers. These exclusions impact not only the immigrants themselves, but also their families, including their US citizen spouses and children.
“People say that this pandemic is the great equalizer,” Rosana Araujo, an undocumented immigrant and domestic worker living in South Florida, said. “Sure, it could be an equalizer in terms of how everyone shares anxiety. But this actually exposes the deep inequalities our communities face. They haven’t taken undocumented immigrants into account.”
Some cities and states have taken steps to bridge this gap in financial relief for these workers who have become critical to the US’s coronavirus response: California and New York City, for example, have created funds totaling $125 million and $20 million respectively to support unauthorized immigrants impacted by Covid-19. Advocates are putting pressure on Congress to offer such aid on a federal level, as well.
But absent further relief for the rest of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants, many won’t have any choice but to continue working despite public health warnings to stay home, which could further spread the virus and pose a risk to public health. And should they contract the virus and have to seek medical care, they will have no financial safety net.
Many unauthorized immigrants have no financial safety net
While many immigrants are continuing to work in essential fields, ranging from medical care to cleaning to grocery stores, they are taking an economic hit like many other workers who are facing layoffs, furloughs, and pay cuts.
For Joel and Emilio, both unauthorized immigrants living in Panama City Beach, Florida, the pandemic has left them without full-time employment and unable to continue supporting their families in their home countries. (They both asked to be identified only by their first name to protect their privacy.)
Before the pandemic hit, Emilio and Joel were both working full-time on restoring hotels in the area as members of the organization Resilience Force, which helps rebuild homes and buildings devastated from natural disasters. But they were furloughed amid the pandemic and now, they’re making a living by shopping and delivering groceries for Instacart.
They arrived in the US in 2018. Emilio, who is originally from Argentina, was seeking economic opportunity. Joel was escaping the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. His mother, who is also an unauthorized immigrant, came to live with him the following year and was working at the same hotel as him before she was furloughed during the pandemic.
They always sent a portion of their paychecks home to their families. Emilio was sending about $100 to $200 weekly to his mother, and Joel was sending money to his grandmother, but neither of them have been able to afford to do so for weeks.
“It was completely terrible because I had normal weekly earnings and then when all this happened, I stopped having that income,” Emilio said, adding that now, his earnings on Instacart are “random and only by luck.”
Araujo said she has also been sending money to her two sisters and nephew back home in Uruguay. She has been cleaning houses and warehouses ever since she left Uruguay in 2002 amid an economic crisis in the country. But she’s been without work since early March, and she’s not expecting to be able to return to work for possibly another two months.
She’s nevertheless still sending even more money home these days because her family is also experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.
Maribel Cruz, a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program living in Long Beach, California, said she is also worried about financially supporting her family. She has been able to continue working from home for her job at a nonprofit, but her parents, who don’t have legal status, have taken a big income hit. Her father, who previously worked in a factory producing T-shirts for sporting events, is without work and her mother, who cleans houses, has seen her hours reduced from four to two days a week.
Cruz has received a stimulus check because she files taxes with a Social Security number she obtained through DACA, which has allowed over 700,000 young undocumented immigrants to live and work in the US without fear of deportation. But her parents aren’t eligible for the checks.
During her day job, Cruz has encountered hundreds of other unauthorized immigrants in her area who are similarly struggling financially. She works for the Long Beach Immigration Rights Coalition, which recently created a $40,000 Covid-19 emergency fund for such families. But the organization received so many applicants that it will have to turn some down.
Other nonprofits, including the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Resilience Force, have also set up their own funds to offer immigrant workers financial support.
“The pandemic has really brought to the forefront their lack of access to resources,” Cruz said.
Coronavirus medical bills could be devastating
Unauthorized immigrants are particularly vulnerable to the virus due to inadequate access to health care. Noncitizens are significantly more likely to be uninsured compared to US citizens, which may dissuade them from seeking medical care if they contract the virus.
Neither Emilio nor Joel have health insurance, so they not only fear getting sick, but also the prospect of getting hit with huge medical bills should they need to be hospitalized. And Joel is also worried about infecting his similarly uninsured mother, who suffers from hypertension and has had problems with her heart.
“Every single day, I think this is a big risk I’m taking because I’m the only one that goes out on the street and if anyone would be infected, I would be the only one to bear the responsibility for that,” he said. “This worries me a great deal because I am exposed to places that are very crowded. Every morning when I leave and every evening when I arrive home, I pray to God that I will not be one more of those who becomes sick.”
Araujo is also worried about getting the treatment she needs without health insurance. She has issues with her thyroid, but the hospital is no longer taking any cases that are unrelated to coronavirus and she can’t afford to go to a health clinic. As a result, she couldn’t get medication prescribed and her joints started aching.
She’s concerned about returning to work and contracting the virus. Her employers don’t give her protective equipment, and she can’t afford to spend $15 on a box of gloves that she won’t be able to reuse. Many cleaners also develop respiratory issues due to the use of chemical cleaning products that could put them at higher risk of complications from Covid-19, the illness caused by coronavirus.
“I’m living with paranoia because I don’t know when I’m going to be infected,” she said. “I feel constantly exposed.”
US citizen spouses of unauthorized immigrants are also left out
Congress has even barred many family members of unauthorized immigrants from receiving stimulus checks, even if they’re US citizens. The bill excludes those in households with people of mixed immigration status, where some tax filers or their children may use what’s called an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
The IRS issues ITINs to unauthorized immigrants so they can pay taxes, even though they don’t have a Social Security number. If anyone in the household uses an ITIN — either a spouse or a dependent child — that means no one in the household will qualify for the stimulus checks, unless one spouse served in the military in 2019.
Immigrant advocates at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging the CARES Act, alleging that it “discriminates against mixed-status couples” in violation of the US Constitution’s equal protection and due process provisions. But if the law is allowed to stand, it could impact an estimated 16.7 million people who live in mixed-status households nationwide, including 8.2 million US-born or naturalized citizens.
Sarah and her husband Juan, who asked to be identified only by their first names to protect their privacy, are one such couple living in Evansville, Indiana. She is a born-and-raised US citizen, but he came to the US 14 years ago from Honduras without authorization, seeking to earn enough money to support his parents and siblings back home.
The couple married three years ago and shortly thereafter, she started the process of sponsoring him for a green card. He’s still waiting for an interview at a consulate in Honduras, which has been postponed on account of the pandemic. But if all goes to plan, he will soon have permanent residency and be issued a Social Security number.
In the meantime, however, Juan is still living in the US as an unauthorized immigrant, filing taxes under an ITIN. Neither he nor Sarah, therefore, are eligible for stimulus checks.
It’s not causing them financial hardship. Sarah is continuing to work from home during the pandemic, making $45,000 a year in medical billing. And Juan chose to take a month off from his job in painting and construction because they feared he would contract the virus at work, but he is now back on the job. She said that together, they make a decent living, but they do have a lot of expenses, including his biweekly $120 remittances for his family in Honduras so they can buy food and pay their water and electric bills.
Still, she’s angry that both she and her husband are being penalized amid the pandemic.
“While not receiving the stimulus hasn’t been a burden, it feels like a slap in the face as a US citizen that even I won’t get it,” she said. “I personally am not opposed to my tax dollars paying for undocumented immigrants receiving aid during this pandemic, but I can understand why our government wouldn’t do this. But me? A US citizen? I’m insulted and angry. I feel like my country does not care about me in the slightest.”
Immigrant work is going unrecognized in coronavirus relief bills
As immigrants on the frontlines of the pandemic, Joel said he and his peers have gone out in public to serve the country that has welcomed them. He said he sees it as a “way of returning the favor of being allowed to be here.”
“I feel pride to at least collaborate and do this work of delivering food to many homes, for many people that cannot leave their homes under any circumstances, especially the elderly,” he said. “So, I feel very proud of that, and I would like that we would be recognized and that our work as immigrants could be recognized.”
But he also faces a lot of uncertainty about his health, his mother’s health and his financial situation absent any support from the government or the US medical system: “At night, I look around and realize that I don’t have any type of security that I will be ok or that nothing serious will happen.”
That’s why advocates are calling on Congress to include support for unauthorized immigrants in its next coronavirus relief package. The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, is calling on lawmakers to ensure unauthorized immigrants have access to testing and treatment for the virus, which will also help stop the spread of the pandemic. It’s also pushing for all taxpayers to have access to expanded unemployment benefits and for all income-eligible residents to receive stimulus checks, regardless of immigration status.
“If they pass another stimulus package, they have to include everyone that’s living in the country,” Cruz said. “I just hope that they don’t think of relief as a political tool. I just hope that they have some humanity in them to provide life-saving assistance to families.”


vox--2020-05-05--The best $42 I ever spent: A single ball of yarn

It usually takes me a lot of time to buy something .
I like to deliberate , to consider , to compare options and see if a fleeting desire is just that .
I like to wait for sales and refresh my banking app and ask myself again and again if I really need the item in question .
Partly this is because I have a low retail flinch point ( the dollar amount at which it becomes physically painful to pull the trigger on a purchase , hovering somewhere around $ 25 for me ) and partly it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clutter .
This is why it was highly uncharacteristic for me to pay $ 35 , plus $ 7 in tax and shipping , for a single ball of yarn .
I spotted it on my Instagram Explore page during a sleepless night over a year ago .
I ’ ve been knitting since I was 6 years old , and so I follow a whole bunch of knitting-related accounts ; as such , the algorithm constantly serves me cozy pictures of half-knitted sweaters arranged next to cups of tea , or of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest creations .
I tend to appreciate these images the same way I like looking in the windows of strangers ’ apartments as I walk around my city : snippets of lives that have very little to do with mine and so I keep on going .
On this particular night ( or morning , hard to tell ) , I was so struck by one picture that I had to stop and stalk .
It featured the beginnings of a sock , knitted from the toe upward , in an absolute riot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reds and grays , at least a dozen , striping up so neatly it was as though they ’ d been produced by a machine .
The yarn , though , was clearly the result of an expert dyer ’ s handiwork , with just enough variation to showcase the love and labor poured into it .
Even as a knitter who tends to stick to the “ 50 shades of taupe ” side of things , I instantly clicked over to the yarn maker ’ s Etsy shop , and had paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — named , aptly , “ Bertie Bott ’ s Every Flavor Jellybean ” — in five minutes flat .
I hadn ’ t even stopped to put on my glasses or turn on my bedside lamp .
I must have fallen back asleep , and in a little over a month ’ s time , once the yarn had been dyed to order and just long enough that I ’ d begun to forget I ’ d ordered it , it arrived in my mailbox .
To be sure , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on yarn in one sitting before .
In the 20-odd years I ’ ve been knitting , I ’ ve mostly graduated from the synthetic $ 4 balls you can find at big craft chains like Michaels or Joann to skeins and hanks made from merino wool , alpaca , and sometimes even silk or cashmere .
Those can run the gamut from $ 10 to $ 20 to $ 50 apiece , depending on how precious the fibers and how generous the yardage .
Not to mention that in order to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a single sock , you ’ ll probably need more than one of whatever you ’ re buying .
Knitting can be an expensive hobby , and it isn ’ t out of the question for me to drop $ 100 or more on a single project .
Still , the vast majority of my yarn-buying is closer to the $ 12-a-ball end of the spectrum , and it ’ s almost always ( fairly ) carefully thought out .
The Jellybean yarn was different .
This is the hippie-dippiest thing I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I didn ’ t feel like I chose to buy it so much as it chose me .
I needed something neat and small and bright .
I needed a project that would do much of the work of being beautiful for me ; all I would have to do was put one stitch in front of the other .
I ’ ve often turned to knitting when I ’ m going through it , and I ’ d had a hard summer , which gave way to a hard fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know how to name the difficulty , not to my satisfaction .
I knew it had to do with the fact that the world ’ s unkindness swelled to a cacophony at the same time that both my personal and professional lives underwent abrupt , unexpected upheaval .
I knew that I went on medication , and then off again , and finally back on for the foreseeable future .
I knew that I gained weight , and that drinking to help quell the anxiety helped nothing .
I began to feel like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the me that is my brain were separate , uncommunicative entities , and that the job of the me that is ME , the ineffable control center of it all , became only to try and force the two to look at each other , to agree on some course of action .
I felt like I ’ d been in survival mode for so long that I didn ’ t quite remember what it was like to not be drawing from stores of reserve energy , to not have to triage each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the future .
This yarn , though , let me look ahead just enough .
I started knitting a pair of socks with it the second I ’ d freed it from its packaging , putting aside the sweater and scarf I ’ d been working on as the weather zigzagged from summer straight into winter .
The yarn fulfilled its promise and then some : Its stripes came out perfectly , effortlessly , asking only that I knit in the simplest possible pattern to show off its spectacularity .
Here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come yellow ; a run of green , a stint of pink , a flash of gray .
All the same length , all with a defined beginning and end .
All , eventually , adding up to a thing , which exists because I wanted it to , because my brain and my body agreed to make it happen , because sometimes , in some very small way , a cause can have an equal effect .
Knitting , meditative and rhythmic and soft and good , is such a relief .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ joy .
That feeling is at a premium right now .
So many friends have asked me how to start knitting in the past few months that I wrote up a Google Doc of tips ; it ’ s not lost on me that now , more than ever , I ’ d like to be there beside them as they cast on their first crooked rows , but that they ’ re just going to have to trust that they can muddle through on their own and that I will be there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zoom ) to help with dropped stitches and wonky tension .
I ’ m under no illusion that crafting solves anything outside of itself .
Knitting , for all that it does , can ’ t eradicate dread or sadness , can ’ t instill global empathy , can ’ t leave you with anything besides the object you set out to make .
But it gives me , at least , a legible roadmap that gets me from one hour to the next without panic .
It ’ s a place where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself and replenish my reserves and serve as a reminder that this is one action I can perform completely and well , even when everything else feels so out of my control .
I have just enough left from that original ball to make another small project — a tiny pair of socks , maybe for my landlords ’ daughter , or my friend ’ s newborn , or a child I don ’ t know who could use something neat and small and bright right now , too .
And then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 35 , plus tax and shipping , to buy another .
Alanna Okun is a deputy editor at The Goods and the author of The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater : Essays on Crafting as well as the forthcoming Knit a Hat : A Beginner ’ s Guide to Knitting .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

It usually takes me a lot of time to buy something. I like to deliberate, to consider, to compare options and see if a fleeting desire is just that. I like to wait for sales and refresh my banking app and ask myself again and again if I really need the item in question. Partly this is because I have a low retail flinch point (the dollar amount at which it becomes physically painful to pull the trigger on a purchase, hovering somewhere around $25 for me) and partly it’s because I don’t like clutter. This is why it was highly uncharacteristic for me to pay $35, plus $7 in tax and shipping, for a single ball of yarn.
I spotted it on my Instagram Explore page during a sleepless night over a year ago. I’ve been knitting since I was 6 years old, and so I follow a whole bunch of knitting-related accounts; as such, the algorithm constantly serves me cozy pictures of half-knitted sweaters arranged next to cups of tea, or of smiling, shiny-haired girls nestled in their latest creations. I tend to appreciate these images the same way I like looking in the windows of strangers’ apartments as I walk around my city: snippets of lives that have very little to do with mine and so I keep on going.
On this particular night (or morning, hard to tell), I was so struck by one picture that I had to stop and stalk. It featured the beginnings of a sock, knitted from the toe upward, in an absolute riot of colors: blues and greens and reds and grays, at least a dozen, striping up so neatly it was as though they’d been produced by a machine. The yarn, though, was clearly the result of an expert dyer’s handiwork, with just enough variation to showcase the love and labor poured into it.
Even as a knitter who tends to stick to the “50 shades of taupe” side of things, I instantly clicked over to the yarn maker’s Etsy shop, and had paid for my own ball of the yarn — named, aptly, “Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Jellybean” — in five minutes flat. I hadn’t even stopped to put on my glasses or turn on my bedside lamp. I must have fallen back asleep, and in a little over a month’s time, once the yarn had been dyed to order and just long enough that I’d begun to forget I’d ordered it, it arrived in my mailbox.
To be sure, I’ve spent far more than $35 on yarn in one sitting before. In the 20-odd years I’ve been knitting, I’ve mostly graduated from the synthetic $4 balls you can find at big craft chains like Michaels or Joann to skeins and hanks made from merino wool, alpaca, and sometimes even silk or cashmere. Those can run the gamut from $10 to $20 to $50 apiece, depending on how precious the fibers and how generous the yardage. Not to mention that in order to make much of anything larger than a hat or a single sock, you’ll probably need more than one of whatever you’re buying. Knitting can be an expensive hobby, and it isn’t out of the question for me to drop $100 or more on a single project. Still, the vast majority of my yarn-buying is closer to the $12-a-ball end of the spectrum, and it’s almost always (fairly) carefully thought out.
The Jellybean yarn was different. This is the hippie-dippiest thing I will probably ever say in my life, but I didn’t feel like I chose to buy it so much as it chose me. I needed something neat and small and bright. I needed a project that would do much of the work of being beautiful for me; all I would have to do was put one stitch in front of the other. I’ve often turned to knitting when I’m going through it, and I’d had a hard summer, which gave way to a hard fall.
I didn’t even really know how to name the difficulty, not to my satisfaction. I knew it had to do with the fact that the world’s unkindness swelled to a cacophony at the same time that both my personal and professional lives underwent abrupt, unexpected upheaval. I knew that I went on medication, and then off again, and finally back on for the foreseeable future. I knew that I gained weight, and that drinking to help quell the anxiety helped nothing.
I began to feel like the me that is my body and the me that is my brain were separate, uncommunicative entities, and that the job of the me that is ME, the ineffable control center of it all, became only to try and force the two to look at each other, to agree on some course of action. I felt like I’d been in survival mode for so long that I didn’t quite remember what it was like to not be drawing from stores of reserve energy, to not have to triage each day or hour rather than looking ahead to the future.
This yarn, though, let me look ahead just enough. I started knitting a pair of socks with it the second I’d freed it from its packaging, putting aside the sweater and scarf I’d been working on as the weather zigzagged from summer straight into winter. The yarn fulfilled its promise and then some: Its stripes came out perfectly, effortlessly, asking only that I knit in the simplest possible pattern to show off its spectacularity. Here, now, is blue; then will come yellow; a run of green, a stint of pink, a flash of gray. All the same length, all with a defined beginning and end. All, eventually, adding up to a thing, which exists because I wanted it to, because my brain and my body agreed to make it happen, because sometimes, in some very small way, a cause can have an equal effect. Knitting, meditative and rhythmic and soft and good, is such a relief. It brings me such pure and quiet joy.
That feeling is at a premium right now. So many friends have asked me how to start knitting in the past few months that I wrote up a Google Doc of tips; it’s not lost on me that now, more than ever, I’d like to be there beside them as they cast on their first crooked rows, but that they’re just going to have to trust that they can muddle through on their own and that I will be there on the other side (and on Zoom) to help with dropped stitches and wonky tension.
I’m under no illusion that crafting solves anything outside of itself. Knitting, for all that it does, can’t eradicate dread or sadness, can’t instill global empathy, can’t leave you with anything besides the object you set out to make. But it gives me, at least, a legible roadmap that gets me from one hour to the next without panic. It’s a place where I can go to come back to myself and replenish my reserves and serve as a reminder that this is one action I can perform completely and well, even when everything else feels so out of my control.
I have just enough left from that original ball to make another small project — a tiny pair of socks, maybe for my landlords’ daughter, or my friend’s newborn, or a child I don’t know who could use something neat and small and bright right now, too. And then, who knows? I might just drop $35, plus tax and shipping, to buy another.
Alanna Okun is a deputy editor at The Goods and the author of The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater: Essays on Crafting as well as the forthcoming Knit a Hat: A Beginner’s Guide to Knitting.


vox--2020-05-05--The essential worker trap

The essential worker trap

The general rule of unemployment has always been that you can ’ t collect benefits if you quit your job .
But what about during a global pandemic , when going to work means putting your life at risk ?
In late April , Iowa Gov .
Kim Reynolds , a Republican , declared that employees who decline to return to work won ’ t be eligible for unemployment benefits , even if they ’ re concerned about contracting the coronavirus .
It ’ s a “ voluntary quit , ” Reynolds explained , whatever the reasoning .
So librarians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retail associates , racetrack workers , and others in the 77 Iowa counties Reynolds allowed to reopen May 1 have a choice : Protect their paychecks , or protect their health .
“ You ’ re just caught between a rock and a hard place .
What do you do ?
We ’ re not going to qualify for unemployment now that the salon ’ s opening back up , so you feel forced to go back to work , ” Terri , a hairstylist in Georgia — which began reopening its economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Terri asked that her last name be withheld to protect her privacy . )
Some people expressed outrage at Reynolds ’ s stance , noting that it puts workers in a terrible bind .
And it does .
It ’ s a scenario that ’ s been playing out for essential workers for weeks , and one that ’ s about to play out for workers across the country as states begin reopening their economies even as the coronavirus crisis continues to rage on .
Many Americans aren ’ t comfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most don ’ t have much of a choice .
There are no easy answers here .
Being asked to go to work and risk catching an unpredictable and deadly virus is terrifying .
And part of the reason the federal government expanded unemployment insurance during the pandemic , adding an extra $ 600 a week through July , is to allow people to remain home , stay safe , and stop the spread .
But many states , right or wrong , are starting to open their economies , and that entails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can ’ t reopen your hair salon if there ’ s no one there to do hair .
The burden isn ’ t being distributed evenly .
Many essential jobs , as well as those in industries hit the hardest by coronavirus layoffs , are low-paid ones .
Unemployment insurance is indeed a more lucrative and safer scenario for these workers , many of whom don ’ t have employer-subsidized health insurance .
In addition , many of these jobs are disproportionately held by women , people of color , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance doesn ’ t have an “ afraid of dying ” clause In March , President Donald Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act , or the CARES Act , a $ 2.2-trillion stimulus package .
Part of that was used to beef up unemployment insurance to the tune of $ 600 a week through the end of July , on top of whatever state benefits people receive .
It also expanded the pool of potential recipients to the self-employed , freelancers , and contract workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to collect .
Speaking with essential workers in recent weeks , I began to notice issues with the CARES Act ’ s expanded benefits .
First , it was creating some animosity with those workers , who had rightly noticed they would be making more on unemployment than they were at their jobs .
Second , they knew they couldn ’ t quit and apply for it .
Generally , unemployment benefits go to workers who are fired , furloughed , or laid off , not to those who quit — even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making $ 10 an hour who didn ’ t exactly sign up to put your life on the line .
“ If I say , look , I want to be at home with my family , then , okay well you lost your job and you can ’ t collect unemployment , ” Kristi , a Family Dollar worker in Georgia , recently told me .
One hospital social worker in upstate New York described to me recently sitting in a car with a coworker who was crying over her anxiety about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infect her elderly grandmother .
She didn ’ t want to quit and lose her source of income , but also couldn ’ t be fired .
“ You ’ re stuck in a hard place , ” the social worker said .
“ You ’ re coming in every day and thinking you ’ re going to get sick or give it to someone you care about.
” As non-essential workers across the country are being recalled to their jobs , they ’ re experiencing a similar scenario : Sure , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but that means no more UI .
Many states offer partial unemployment benefits , so if someone ’ s hours are reduced , they may get some benefits , explained Rebecca Dixon , executive director of the National Employment Law Project .
But if not , it ’ s a tough spot .
“ If we ’ re talking about , ‘ I was called back and I ’ m given a full-time schedule , ’ it is correct that if you quit voluntarily in most unemployment insurance programs , then you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The CARES Act does extend benefit eligibility for certain coronavirus-related circumstances , including workers who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 , or live with ( or are taking care of someone ) who has ; workers who are the primary caregiver of children whose schools are closed because of Covid-19 ; and workers who have become the primary source of financial support for a household in which the former head of the household died of Covid-19 , among others .
But for many people , those provisions don ’ t apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if people are recalled to work , they are not supposed to be getting unemployment benefits because they ’ re not unemployed , and whether they like it or not , they need to return , ” said Susan Houseman , vice president and director of research at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research .
Workers have recourse , but not a lot Workers have options if they feel unsafe , including contacting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ) and their state agencies .
“ Will OSHA be responsive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not at the state level , either , ” Houseman said .
Congressional Republicans are pushing to include liability protections for businesses in future rounds of coronavirus legislation .
That could complicate the situation even further , as businesses could feel less pressure to ensure the safety of their employees ( and customers ) .
Unemployment insurance guidelines vary state by state , but for workers , it ’ s still try at your own risk .
A spokesperson for California ’ s Employment Development Department told me that people may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quit work because of child care needs or choose to stay home due to health conditions or concerns about coronavirus exposure , but that it will be determined on a case-by-case basis via individual phone interviews .
A spokesperson for the New York Department of Labor told me that workers should file a complaint on the department ’ s website if they feel unsafe , and that fear-related cases will be determined on a case-by-case basis .
An Alabama Department of Labor spokesperson said a voluntary quit , generally speaking , would normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-related claims , someone would qualify if they ’ re medically quarantined by a doctor or government official .
“ If someone is fearful of going back to work , we are encouraging employees to work with their employers on a safe back-to-work plan , ” said Kersha Cartwright , a spokesperson for the Department of Labor in Georgia , one of the first states to start reopening its economy .
She acknowledged that the issue of people who are wary of returning to work is a “ grey area.
” There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through policy and enforcement .
Democrats and labor leaders are pushing the US Labor Department to ensure federal safety guidelines for worker protections are in place and enforceable before states reopen .
And Democrats and some Republicans are advocating for essential workers to receive hazard pay , so at the very least , they ’ re being compensated for the added risk they ’ re taking on .
When expanded unemployment benefits were being legislated during CARES Act negotiations , some Republicans publicly fretted that they would be so generous , people wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
And indeed , they had a point that the additional benefits would cause tension .
But the tension isn ’ t that people are so lazy they don ’ t want to work , it ’ s that they are legitimately afraid for their health and their lives , concerned that the benefits will expire as soon as economies reopen , and anxious about choosing between staying safe and getting paid .
So , we ’ re in a coronavirus-induced economy where there is a dichotomy within the working class : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who can not .
And those who can not are being asked to carry an enormous burden .
Every day at Vox , we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you , and our audience around the world , with information that has the power to save lives .
Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment : to empower you through understanding .
Vox ’ s work is reaching more people than ever , but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic downturn .
Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation , but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles , videos , and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires .
Please consider making a contribution to Vox today .

The general rule of unemployment has always been that you can’t collect benefits if you quit your job. But what about during a pandemic, when going to work means putting your life at risk?
Apparently, the rule still applies.
In late April, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, declared that employees who decline to return to work won’t be eligible for unemployment benefits, even if they’re concerned about contracting the coronavirus. It’s a “voluntary quit,” Reynolds explained, whatever the reasoning. So librarians, gym instructors, restaurant employees, retail associates, racetrack workers, and others in the 77 Iowa counties Reynolds allowed to reopen May 1 have a choice: Protect their paychecks, or protect their health.
“You’re just caught between a rock and a hard place. What do you do? We’re not going to qualify for unemployment now that the salon’s opening back up, so you feel forced to go back to work,” Terri, a hairstylist in Georgia — which began reopening its economy in late April — recently told me. (Terri asked that her last name be withheld to protect her privacy.)
Some people expressed outrage at Reynolds’s stance, noting that it puts workers in a terrible bind. It’s a scenario that’s been playing out for essential workers for weeks, and one that’s about to play out for workers across the country as states begin reopening their economies even as the coronavirus crisis continues to rage on. Many Americans aren’t comfortable going to work right now, but most don’t have much of a choice.
There are no easy answers here. Being asked to go to work and risk catching an unpredictable and deadly virus is terrifying. And part of the reason the federal government expanded unemployment insurance during the pandemic, adding an extra $600 a week through July, is to allow people to remain home, stay safe, and stop the spread. But many states, right or wrong, are starting to open their economies, and that entails asking people to come back to work. You can’t reopen your hair salon if there’s no one there to do hair.
The burden isn’t being distributed evenly. Many essential jobs, as well as those in industries hit the hardest by coronavirus layoffs, are low-paid ones. Unemployment insurance is indeed a more lucrative and safer scenario for these workers, many of whom don’t have employer-subsidized health insurance. In addition, many of these jobs are disproportionately held by women, people of color, and those who are already vulnerable.
Unemployment insurance doesn’t have an “afraid of dying” clause
In March, President Donald Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, a $2.2-trillion stimulus package. Part of that was used to beef up unemployment insurance to the tune of $600 a week through the end of July, on top of whatever state benefits people receive. It also expanded the pool of potential recipients to the self-employed, freelancers, and contract workers, all of whom are usually ineligible to collect.
Speaking with essential workers in recent weeks, issues with the CARES Act’s expanded benefits became clear. First, it was creating some animosity with those workers, who had rightly noticed they would be making more on unemployment than they were at their jobs. Second, they knew they couldn’t quit and apply for it. Generally, unemployment benefits go to workers who are fired, furloughed, or laid off, not to those who quit — even if you’re a grocery store worker making $10 an hour who didn’t exactly sign up to put your life on the line.
“If I say, look, I want to be at home with my family, then, okay well you lost your job and you can’t collect unemployment,” Kristi, a Family Dollar worker in Georgia, recently told me.
One hospital social worker in upstate New York described to me recently sitting in a car with a coworker who was crying over her anxiety about going to work, worried she might infect her grandmother. She didn’t want to quit and lose her source of income, but also couldn’t be fired. “You’re stuck in a hard place,” the social worker said. “You’re coming in every day and thinking you’re going to get sick or give it to someone you care about.”
As nonessential workers across the country are being recalled to their jobs, they’re experiencing a similar scenario: Sure, you can quit or decline to go back, but that means no more unemployment insurance.
Many states offer partial unemployment benefits, so if someone’s hours are reduced, they may get some benefits, explained Rebecca Dixon, executive director of the National Employment Law Project. But if not, it’s a tough spot. “If we’re talking about, ‘I was called back and I’m given a full-time schedule,’ it is correct that if you quit voluntarily in most unemployment insurance programs, then you’re not eligible,” she said.
The CARES Act does extend benefit eligibility for certain coronavirus-related circumstances, including workers who have been diagnosed with Covid-19, or live with (or are taking care of someone) who has; workers who are the primary caregiver of children whose schools are closed because of Covid-19; and workers who have become the primary source of financial support for a household in which the former head of the household died of Covid-19, among others.
But for many people, those provisions don’t apply. “As it stands, yes, if people are recalled to work, they are not supposed to be getting unemployment benefits because they’re not unemployed, and whether they like it or not, they need to return,” said Susan Houseman, vice president and director of research at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
Workers have recourse, but not a lot
Workers have options if they feel unsafe, including contacting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and their state agencies. “Will OSHA be responsive? They’re not well funded, and not at the state level, either,” Houseman said.
Congressional Republicans are pushing to include liability protections for businesses in future rounds of coronavirus legislation. That could complicate the situation even further, as businesses could feel less pressure to ensure the safety of their employees (and customers).
Unemployment insurance guidelines vary state by state, but for workers, it’s still try at your own risk.
A spokesperson for California’s Employment Development Department told me that people may be eligible to collect benefits if they quit work because of child care needs or choose to stay home due to health conditions or concerns about coronavirus exposure, but that it will be determined on a case-by-case basis via individual phone interviews.
A spokesperson for the New York Department of Labor told me that workers should file a complaint on the department’s website if they feel unsafe, and that fear-related cases will be determined on a case-by-case basis. An Alabama Department of Labor spokesperson said quitting voluntarily, generally speaking, would normally disqualify you, but added that for Covid-19-related claims, someone would qualify if they’re medically quarantined by a doctor or government official.
“If someone is fearful of going back to work, we are encouraging employees to work with their employers on a safe back-to-work plan,” said Kersha Cartwright, a spokesperson for the Department of Labor in Georgia, one of the first states to start reopening its economy. She acknowledged that the issue of people who are wary of returning to work is a “gray area.”
There are ways to address some of these issues through policy and enforcement. Democrats and labor leaders are pushing the US Labor Department to ensure federal safety guidelines for worker protections are in place and enforceable before states reopen. And Democrats and some Republicans are advocating for essential workers to receive hazard pay, so at the very least, they’re being compensated for the added risk they’re taking on.
When expanded unemployment benefits were being negotiated, some Republicans publicly fretted that they would be so generous, people wouldn’t want to go back to work. And indeed, they had a point that the additional benefits would cause tension. But the tension among workers generally isn’t about laziness, it’s that they are legitimately afraid for their health and their lives, concerned that the benefits will expire as soon as economies reopen, and anxious about choosing between staying safe and getting paid. So, we’re in a coronavirus-induced economy where there is a dichotomy within the working class: those who can work from home and those who cannot. And those who cannot are being asked to carry an enormous burden.