This presentation is accessible only to the Illinois State University community.

  • Off-Campus ISU Users: To download this item, click the "Off-Campus Download" button below. You will be prompted to log in with your ISU ULID and password.

Publication Date

4-1-2022

Document Type

Poster

Degree Type

Undergraduate

Department

Economics

Mentor

Eric Lenz

Mentor Department

Economics

Abstract

This presentation explores the effects of the government-mandated lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic on unemployment and wages in the food industry. Using monthly estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for unemployment rates and hourly wages from 2011 to 2021, I analyze the changes in each variable before and after March of 2020. I regress the unemployment rates and wages on a binomial lockdown variable to determine a quantifiable relationship. To conclude, I show how wage increases are distributed over wage percentiles in both the food industry and all occupations by comparing the change in average hourly wages from before and at the height of the pandemic.

Off-Campus Download

Share

COinS