While millions of workers who were laid off in March and April have returned to work, and many restaurants, bars, and retail shops have been allowed to reopen, many businesses and industries still remain on shaky ground. 2.4 million applications for unemployment were filed on Thursday this week, and while weekly unemployment numbers are lower than they were in the spring, they are still historically high, prompting many to worry about long-term effects. Earlier this week, United Airlines announced that it will be sending notifications to approximately 36,000 employees that furloughs may impact them this October. Trade shows are another industry that remains fragile, as organizers, seeing weak demand due to fears over travel, continue to cancel shows further into the future. These cancellations affect other industries, such as exhibit builders, who've been forced to lay off unionized trade workers due to decreased business.
See "2.4 million applications for unemployment this week leaves hopes shaky that jobs will rebound swiftly", Scott Horsley, NPR, July 10, 2020