layoffs 

裁员

Amid the widespread economic shutdown caused by COVID-19, layoffs are sure to accelerate as the US economy sinks into a recession, The New York Times reported. Since many industries’ revenue (营收) has collapsed, most employers are cutting jobs to save money. As job losses mount, some economists say the nation’s unemployment rate could approach 30 percent in the second quarter of 2020. Meanwhile, applications for jobless benefits have soared all over the country, swamping (拖累) state labor departments. A report from the Labor Department said that more than 3 million people applied for unemployment benefits from March 16 to 20.