Collateral Damage
Bloomberg Businessweek|March 30 - April 06, 2020
Measures to control the epidemic are crushing a sector employing more than 1 in 10 U.S. workers
By Cristina Lindblad
Collateral Damage

Juan Sandoval used to work 70 hours a week, splitting his time between a fried-chicken fast-food chain in Chicago’s West Loop and a well-known Italian eatery a few miles away.

That was before Illinois announced in mid-March that dining establishments across the state would have to close for dine-in customers. Since then, the 49-year-old father of two has been able to patch together shifts assembling takeout meals at the friedchicken place, but that only added up to 20 hours in the week after the ban took effect. Meanwhile, Sandoval hasn’t heard back from his managers at the Italian restaurant, where he made $14 an hour prepping salads. “I’m worried about if I’m going to get money for food and to pay my rent,” he says.

The U.S. economy has never been more dependent on jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector— restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues. But with the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., that sector has been severely threatened. More than 1 in 10 workers, about 16.9 million in total, were employed in these industries as of February, a record. Also at an all-time high: the share of overall consumer spending being directed toward those businesses—about 8.6%, or $1.3 trillion a year.

Much of that economic activity is disappearing overnight—shut down by decree, as local governments impose social-distancing measures designed to halt the spread of the lethal virus. Transportation services—which include everything from airlines to Uber—account for an additional $486 billion in annual consumer spending, and they’re taking a big hit, too.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 30 - April 06, 2020 من Bloomberg Businessweek.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 30 - April 06, 2020 من Bloomberg Businessweek.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK مشاهدة الكل
Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App

The rise of AI and the fall of Twitter could create opportunities for upstarts

time-read
4 mins  |
March 13, 2023
Running in Circles
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Running in Circles

A subscription running shoe program aims to fight footwear waste

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort
Bloomberg Businessweek US

What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort

Nine wild secrets from the staff at Turtle Bay, who have to manage everyone from haughty honeymooners to go-go-dancing golfers.

time-read
10 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto
Bloomberg Businessweek US

How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto

The best restaurant in the world just began its second pop-up in Japan. Here's what's cooking

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
The Last-Mover Problem
Bloomberg Businessweek US

The Last-Mover Problem

A startup called Sennder is trying to bring an extremely tech-resistant industry into the age of apps

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Tick Tock, TikTok
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Tick Tock, TikTok

The US thinks the Chinese-owned social media app is a major national security risk. TikTok is running out of ways to avoid a ban

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria

A UK company produces colors with less water than conventional methods and no toxic chemicals

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Pumping Heat in Hamburg
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Pumping Heat in Hamburg

The German port city plans to store hot water underground and bring it up to heat homes in the winter

time-read
3 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge
Bloomberg Businessweek US

Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge

Squid's ability to flourish in warmer waters makes it fitting for a diet for the changing environment

time-read
4 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023
New Money, New Problems
Bloomberg Businessweek US

New Money, New Problems

In Naples, an influx of wealthy is displacing out-of-towners lower-income workers

time-read
4 mins  |
March 20 - 27, 2023