Unemployment Claims Reach Historic Highs following the COVID-19 Lockdown
The deep economic effects of Covid-19 are reflected in the unprecedented rise of unemployment claims around the world. In Puerto Rico, cumulative unemployment claims in the five weeks following the lockdown reached 200,419, three times the total claims during 2019. This number is in line with the US when measured in relation to the labor force. Covid-19 is also impacting the large informal economy of the Island, which is not eligible for unemployment insurance. On the other side, Puerto Rico may be seen as a safe place to do business given the successful containment of the virus so far, and as an ideal location from where to work remotely in the future.