State鈥檚 job market takes hit from coronavirus, Whatcom expected to quickly rise
Hart Hodges is one of those bracing for a spike in job losses. Hodges, the co-director at the y, said after that spike, the timing for a bounce-back in the labor market will depend on testing for the virus and getting money to businesses.
On testing for the virus, Hodges believes people won鈥檛 start returning to restaurant dining rooms or gyms until there鈥檚 a reasonable certainty that people in those places don鈥檛 have coronavirus.
鈥淚magine, for example, if you knew everyone at a restaurant or getting on a plane had with them confirmation of a negative test result. You wouldn鈥檛 have any problem joining them,鈥 Hodges said, adding that not testing would lead to heightened uncertainty and continued social distancing.