Weekly Hourly Hiring Report 9/22/2020

How COVID-19 is affecting hourly work

Snagajob is here to help you navigate the hourly hiring landscape during this pandemic. Our proprietary data gives us a unique perspective on hourly job trends and we can see how both workers and employers are responding in real-time. One of the most valuable things we can offer you is a view into these insights and hiring trends. We’re here to give you helpful context as you make business decisions. 

Weekly Hourly Hiring Report 9/22/20

Highlights

Overall, jobs are up 21% week over week, up 23% month over month and up 24% since early March.

We continue to see signs of economic recovery that are better than expected. While new unemployment claims are still at historically-high levels, overall unemployment is now 8.4%. That’s much lower than most economists predicted for the end of the year.

This good news does mean that there’s less urgency for Congress to pass a new stimulus package. With the election so close, there’s a chance we won’t see a deal until November. While the wait poses some risk to the recovery, there’s still the expectation that enhanced unemployment benefits will continue.

Also, now that jobs have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, we find ourselves in a tight labor market. While it sounds counterintuitive because of the high unemployment, it’s happening in hourly work. Hourly job searches on Google are down 5%-10% year over year. And with an estimated 75% of workers on enhanced unemployment benefits, fewer people are looking for work. Combine that with employers who are rehiring and industries like warehouse and logistics that are expanding, and we’re seeing a labor market that’s tighter than it was pre-pandemic. This is great news for hourly workers who don’t qualify for unemployment benefits—there are plenty of jobs available.

Jobs

All industry data is from 3/2/20-9/22/20

Here are the latest job numbers by industry:

Quick service restaurant (QSR) jobs are flat week over week, up 2% month over month and down 27% since early March.

Sit-down restaurant jobs are up 2% week over week, up 4% month over month and down 45% since early March.

Warehouse and logistics jobs are down 49% week over week, down 280% month over month and up 443% since early March.

Retail jobs are up 1% week over week, down 10% month over month and down 13% since early March.

Grocery jobs are up 4% week over week, up 23% month over month and up 46% since early March.

Hospitality jobs are up 2% week over week, up 2% month over month and down 44% since early March.

On demand jobs are up 61% week over week, up 80% month over month and up 69% since early March.

Convenience store jobs are flat week over week, up 4% month over month and down 15% since early March.

Healthcare jobs are down 43% week over week, down 41% month over month and down 11% since early March.

What’s happening across America

All state data is from 3/2/20-9/22/20

Tampa, FL: On demand jobs are up 36% week over week, up 6% since early March. Retail jobs are up 5% week over week, down 4% since early March. Grocery jobs are down 54% week over week, up 121% since early March.

Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA: Warehouse and logistics jobs are up 200% week over week, up 7,300% since early March. Hospitality jobs are flat week over week, down 13% since early March. Retail jobs are down 18% week over week, up 18% since early March.

Dallas, TX: Grocery jobs are up 23% week over week, up 101% since early March. Restaurant jobs are up 2% week over week, down 45% since early March. Hospitality jobs are up 2% week over week, down 59% since early March.

Detroit, MI: Retail jobs are up 5% week over week, up 23% since early March. Hospitality jobs are up 10% week over week, up 160% since early March. Grocery jobs are up 11% week over week, up 64% since early March. On demand jobs are up 74% week over week, up 82% since early March.

Workers

Google searches for part-time jobs are flat week over week, down 17% month over month and down 34% since early March.

The bottom line

As always, we’re staying tuned to economists, industry leaders and credible data sources—including our own. Plus, we continue to talk to hourly workers and employers to see how they’re feeling about the situation. 

We’ll keep you informed as the job market evolves in the critical weeks ahead with this weekly report and infographics.