Why This is Important
Among employment sectors hit the hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic, retail trade jobs employed nearly 13,000 Durham County workers in 2018 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages). Even before this pandemic prompted ongoing layoffs and closures that are leaving retail employees out of work, the combination of stagnant wages and rapidly increasing rents was becoming untenable in Durham. For retail workers in Durham county, average weekly wages were $566 in the year 2000 and $573 in 2018 (in 2018 dollars).
About the Data
American Community Survey (5-year), table DP03. These estimates refer to the civilian employed population 16 years and over who are working in these sectors: retail trade.
Source: American Community Survey (5-year), table DP03.
Additional Resources
| Resource | Learn More and Take Action |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits, NC Department of Commerce | After filing a claim, it will take about 14 days to receive first payment. The additional $600 in federal benefits will be for weeks ending April 4 – July 31. DES is awaiting guidance for issuing those payments. Benefits owed will be paid retroactively. |
| COVID-19 Resource Spreadsheet - Durham NC (English) | Community-wide resource listings for crisis support, mutual aid, money for lost wages and more (maintained by Community Empowerment Fund). |
| CDC Coronavirus/COVID-19 Strategies | This resource offers comprehensive guidance for community members as well as local, state and national public officials on mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and ensuring health workers have the resources necessary to stay safe. |
| Labor and Employment Data (D4) NC Commerce | County- and state-level employment and labor statistics from 2000 through the present. |
| American Community Survey (ACS) | "The American Community Survey collects data on an ongoing basis, January through December, to provide every community with the information they need to make important decisions. We release new data every year, in the form of estimates, in a variety of tables, tools, and analytical reports." |
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Data Distribution, 2018
Percent of Workers in the Retail Trade Industry
