Every Thursday since America started locking down to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, a tragic new number is released: the latest unemployment claims. Tens of millions of Americans have already filed for unemployment, and that number is likely to keep going up. Professor Anna Gassman-Pines lays out who is most affected by the dramatic economic downturn we're seeing, what job losses mean for children, families, and entire communities, and how policymakers can help buffer against some of the worst effects of this economic crisis.

For more on this topic:

• Check out Gassman-Pines' memo with Professor Elizabeth Ananat for Econofact, Snapshot of the COVID Crisis Impact on Working Families
• Read her previous opinion piece for NJ.com, Long-term unemployment assistance helps families, communities