Will the rise in unemployment in the euro zone due to the COVID crisis rapidly correct?
The fall in activity in 2020 is going to lead to a sharp rise in unemployment in the euro zone, despite the short-time working schemes, if only because companies have stopped hiring. Will the unemployment rate then fall back rapidly? This is doubtful, as: Companies face a long period of difficulty (higher debt, lower profits); The new health regulations will result in higher labour costs for as long as they are in place; The pronounced shift in the sectoral structure of the economy and jobs mean s that many wage earners are going to have to change occupation and retrain, which is a long and difficult process . A protracted period of high unemployment is a major barrier to a rapid recovery in demand for goods and services.