This study examines the effect of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on U.S. job search activity by developing sectoral and state-level job search indices. We document that Covid-19 has a significantly negative effect on job search, and that this effect varies across sectors and regions, being stronger in the other services, the leisure and hospitality sector, the trade, transportation, and utilities sector, the manufacturing sector, and in the West and Midwest regions. We also explore policy effects and observe that they helped reduce the negative effect of Covid-19 on job searches. Our results also indicate that the lower job search activity is more a national, rather than region-specific, phenomenon. Overall, our study suggests that Covid-19 does influence job search activities.
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Wei-Fong Pan |
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University of Reading |
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