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What Work Does Generative AI Do?
Essays SEP 8, 2026
By: Alexander Bick, Adam Blandin, David Deming, Tyler Schumacher
AI, Tech & Energy
Labor, Wages & Worker Power
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SEP 4, 2020
Equitable Growth’s Jobs Day Graphs: August 2020 Report Edition
Abstract
On September 4th, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data on the U.S. labor market during the month of August. Below are five graphs compiled by Equitable Growth staff highlighting important trends in the data.
While still well below its pre-coronavirus level, the employment rate for prime-age workers rose to 75.3% in August, having regained half of the losses since its low in April.
Share of 25-54 year olds who are employed 2000–2020
Unemployment rates remain highest for Black workers at 13.0%. Latinx unemployment fell to 10.5%, just below the Asian American unemployment rate of 10.7%. White unemployment declined to 7.3%.
U.S. unemployment rate by race, 2000–2020
While unemployment rates continue to decline for all education levels, the unemployment rate for workers with less than a high school education is still more than twice as high as for those with a college degree.
Unemployment rate by U.S. educational attainment, 2000–2020
Employment rose across all sectors in August, and in leisure and hospitality has rebounded to roughly half of its lowest levels.
Employment by major industry, indexed to average industry employment in 2007
The proportion of unemployed workers who were on temporary layoff fell to 45.5% in August, while the share of permanent job losers rose to 30.6%.
Percent of all unemployed workers in the United States by reason for unemployment, 2000–2020
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