The number of Americans filing for unemployment insurance soared to 38.6 million this past week, even as some states and cities attempt to reopen their economies from Covid-19 lockdowns.
The U.S. unemployment system is designed as a partnership between the federal government and the states in order to provide short-term financial aid to certain workers. States have struggled to keep up with the demand that the crisis has placed on the system. As a result, Congress has passed emergency measures to temporarily expand the unemployment insurance program. Other counties, such as Germany and Sweden, have a different approach.
Watch the video above to learn how the social safety net for workers in America compares to other systems around the world.
