Share of Children with Unemployed Parents Reach Historic Highs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Zachary Parolin ()

No 20410, Poverty and Social Policy Brief from Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to high rates of unemployment and hardship for families with children with potential long-term consequences for child well-being and development. Urgent policy action is likely needed to prevent long-lasting, detrimental effects on child well-being and development. This brief finds that the share of children with an unemployed parent has reached historic highs in the U.S. since the onset of the pandemic. Black and Hispanic children, in particular, face elevated rates of parental unemployment. Within households, mothers are more likely to face unemployment than fathers, in part due to gender imbalances in domestic care responsibilities and more children participating in distance learning. Combined with inadequate income support, these increases in unemployment have contributed to particularly high rates of food insufficiency and psychological distress among families experiencing job loss.

Keywords: poverty; COVID-19; social policy; unemployment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 13 pages
Date: 2020-10
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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