COVID-19 Research & Engagement at the Carsey School

Carsey School researchers Jessica Carson and Sarah Boege discuss their latest brief, which examines U.S. Census Bureau data that shows that child poverty levels fell slightly in 2019 from 2018, but that still one in six children lives in poverty. More importantly though, 2019 child poverty declines are likely now outdated due to the COVID-19-related recession, the effects of which may last years. For instance, child poverty had still not yet returned to pre-Great Recession rates from 2007 in all states by 2019, illustrating that recovery in child poverty can be a long process.

Carsey Director Michael Ettlinger and Policy Analyst Jordan Hensley provide an update on the economy and employment data from the COVID-19 Economic Crisis: By State report. The latest numbers show that employment levels are well down from their February levels, and that states with the highest cases of COVID-19 are seeing the worst job growth.

Corey Sparks and Rogelio Saenz of UTSA – The University of Texas at San Antonio joined the Carsey School to discuss their research into inequities in job loss and recovery over the last several months of the pandemic. Their recent research brief highlights the wide variations in unemployment and the level of job loss over the last several months that have taken place to date across the nation’s demographic groups that have historically suffered disparities in the workforce, including persons of color, women, and immigrants.