JOBS

Each year retail stores hire more workers than usual to make sure they can accommodate all the extra people and demand for goods, although one group that can overlooked is those with disabilities.

Goodwill Houston is dedicated to serving veterans right here at home, as part of their mission to help change lives through the power of work.

Amazon announced Tuesday that it is hiring 250,000 employees throughout the United States in full-time, seasonal, and part-time roles and more than 28,000 of those will be in Texas. That number includes more than 5,100 employees who will be hired in Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Montgomery counties.

Here are the 10 biggest by the number of striking workers, according to Statista.

Are you looking for a new and exciting career? If so, there’s a nationwide shortage of court reporters and they’re needed now more than ever.

If you’re on the hunt for a new job, beware of scammers who the Better Business Bureau says are getting more sophisticated and putting new twists on traditional job scams.

The average annual salary for a controller in 2021 was $129,750, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and controllers also get to have top-notch benefits working for the government.

U.K. telecom company BT Group plans to shed up to 55,000 jobs by the end of the decade and replace some of them with artificial intelligence.

Texas Sports Productions posted on Facebook that it’s hiring team members to help cover high school sports in Houston.

The effort hopes to help low-income students obtain a two-year certification program in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois and Texas.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will join United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Tuesday at the signing ceremony officially debuting Calibrate, the airlines in-house apprenticeship program, and grand opening of its Technical Operations Recruitment Center at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport.

According to responses we’ve gotten to the idea, many are receptive to a four-day workweek.

Harris County Judge Hidalgo and Commissioner Rodney Ellis joined local leaders Tuesday morning to announce that $31.6 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to help expand the county’s workforce training efforts, according to the county judge.

If you’re looking to work for the Stros, here’s your chance.

Earning potential is something most college and high school students think about, with many asking themselves, ‘Is what I’m doing now going to help prepare me for the future?’

If you’re thinking about making a career change, 2023 may be the year to make that leap.

The most stressful jobs in the United States are now ranked.

It's one of dozens of union locals that has launched a recruiting blitz to bring in "unrepresented" journeymen and offer paid apprenticeships to the potential next generation of skilled welders.

You don't have to go far to find workers who are burned out, fed up and looking for a new job.

Thanks to the pandemic, technology and just trends, traditional office life is becoming less appealing.

Our Solutionaries team has scoured the country for solutions to help employees, employers, companies and unions move forward... together!

How celebrating failure can remove the fear of taking risks

Karly Pavlinac Blackburn has a resume that takes the cake.

The Houston Police Department is looking to hire hundreds of new officers to keep the city safe.

Houston Independent School District, in partnership with Eight Million Stories, Inc., announced Wednesday that it will be offering a new education option called HISD REAL.

Council Member Tiffany D. Thomas will host her 2nd Annual District F Career Fair this Saturday, with more than 75 participating employers and resource groups scheduled to attend.

Law enforcement agencies across the state are dealing with staffing shortages, retention and recruitment.

Only 14 of the city’s 37 pools are open as of mid-July, with no guarantees that any more of them will open this summer.

As communities continue to grow, so does the amount of garbage. But cities and companies are struggling to keep workers willing to do these "dirty" jobs.

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar is opening a location in Stafford, and the company said on Monday that it is planning to hire more than 200 people to staff its new restaurant there.

Watch as Stacey and Lauren Kelly demonstrate a few last-minute ways to prank the kids, that are simple, safe, and not scary.

Inflation is a word that fills many with dread. A recent Harris Poll found that 55% of Americans are worried about inflation and what it will do to their cost of living.

If you’re looking to work for the best baseball team in the league, here’s your chance.

Everyone loves a good quitting story, because, at some point or another, everyone dreams of quitting.

What’s better than actually going to the rodeo? Working the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!

Harris County Commissioners adopted a plan Tuesday from Harris Attorney Christian Menefee to remove barriers for job candidates with criminal histories who apply for positions with the county.

Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee hosted a news conference Tuesday morning announcing the upcoming Harris County Fair Chance Policy.

KPRC 2, the NBC affiliate station in Houston owned by Graham Media Group is in search of a part-time Production Assistant. KPRC, the first TV station in Houston and a market leader, continues to invest in its future.

UPS is still hiring over 750 seasonal employees across the Houston area to support the annual increase in package volume ahead of the holidays.

Know someone who needs a job? The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office will hold a hiring event for multiple officer positions this Friday and Saturday.

Veterans sometimes face challenges when returning home after military service. At Goodwill, they believe finding a good job shouldn’t be one of them. U.S. Army veteran Pedro Castillo was joined by Goodwill Houston’s VP of Fund Development and Community Relations Barbie Parker to share Pedro’s story.

As the holidays approach, not only can we all use the extra cash, but many companies create available positions, either seasonal or permanent. Here are some upcoming job fair from local employers with immediate positions to fill.

Houston Newsmakers: Saving kids through education

Did you know whether you’re shopping or dropping off donations at Goodwill Houston, you’re helping to give many Houstonians a second chance?

Kroger is looking to add on 500 new associates throughout the Houston area ahead of the holiday season. Here's how to register for the event:

Philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs will invest $3.5 billion within the next 10 years to address the climate crisis.

We know it and you know it, too: The pandemic messed with a LOT of people’s jobs.

Federal unemployment benefits, for people financially struggling during the pandemic, ended Labor Day Weekend.

Applications are opening soon for those interested in becoming a Texas State Park Police Officer with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

During the summer it's more important than ever to give back to Goodwill.

We know, you know: The pandemic messed with a LOT of people’s jobs.

Has someone ever come up to you and said that you work too much?

It’s safe to say this isn’t your average job interview, nor has it been for 105 years.

If you or someone you know is looking for a job, tons of Houston-area restaurants, retail, and grocery stores are looking to hire workers as soon as possible and companies are offering incentives, such as signing bonuses, to attract them.

East End Houston is getting a new innovation manufacturing center that is expected to create 1,000 new companies within the next five years in the Houston area.

Need a job or know someone who does?

Chilis Grill & Bar is looking to hire 10,000 new employees in the next 10 weeks.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped by 13,000 last week to 553,000, the lowest level since the pandemic hit last March and another sign the economy is recovering from the coronavirus recession.

In a tight job market, it’s important to stand out–but not for being unprofessional.

For over 35 years, Ken Lindner has guided individuals in a very diverse pool of job categories and professional fields.

McDonald’s restaurants in the Houston area are planning to hire nearly 2,500 new employees in April.

Mayor Sylvester Turner joined Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and other community leaders during a news conference Thursday afternoon that highlighted the direct impact the American Jobs Plan will have on the city of Houston.

America’s employers unleashed a burst of hiring in March, adding 916,000 jobs in a sign that a sustained recovery from the pandemic recession is taking hold as vaccinations accelerate, stimulus checks flow through the economy and businesses increasingly reopen.

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply last week to 684,000, the fewest since the pandemic erupted a year ago and a sign the economy is improving. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that jobless claims fell from 781,000 the week before. All told, the number of applicants fell below 1 million for the first time since the pandemic. AdNationally, though, the number of recipients in an extended federal jobless benefits program jumped by 730,000 to 5.5 million. Historically, the weekly unemployment claims figure has been considered an accurate reflection of the pace of layoffs.

Houston – Good news for Texans: As our economy improves, more companies are hiring again. In April 2020, as businesses shut down, the percentage of unemployed Texans shot up to 14.3%. If you are part of the 8% looking for work, these are the industries and businesses hiring right now:Healthcare and social assistanceHealthcare and medical workers are not only essential, they are in demand. These agencies are usually paid by the businesses who need the employees. AdOn Brookwoods site right now, there are just five jobs listed, but Milks says there are more.

When you hear someone say that he or she is an accountant, do you think of taxes right away?

This is especially true for women of a certain age, as they move into their 50s and beyond. Once a high-powered energy trader, a layoff forced her to start her “second act.”“I think reinvention sometimes comes later because we are forced into it,” she said. “As companies start to reorganize, it just so happens the ones that are a little older get sent out. From the boardroom to the cattle farmA big life change can be scary, but sometimes just seeing other people do it is motivation. Teacher, trainer starts a career in roofingFormer teacher Angela Susan brought her career to a much “higher” level as she entered her 50s as a roofer.

HOUSTON – If you’re still employed during the pandemic, consider yourself lucky, or even blessed. To determine the strongest local job markets in the U.S., WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 32 key metrics. The data set ranges from job opportunities to employment growth to monthly average starting salary. When it comes to finding work in Houston, the Bayou City ranked as follows (1=Best; 91=Avg.) :130th – Job Opportunities56th – Employment Growth126th – Unemployment Rate75th – Industry Variety12th – Monthly Average Starting Salary125th – % of Workforce Living in Poverty94th – Median Annual Income*69th – Housing Affordability173rd – Avg.

A Betterment survey shared that one in three gig workers have no retirement savings, and according to the Freelancers Union and Upwork, 30 % of them are baby boomers. If you’re nontraditional, we’ll share the long-term downsides and what you could potentially do to save yourself. If you’re nontraditional, you’re accountable for paying 100% of your social security and Medicare taxes through self-employment tax, while employers pay a portion of those. You will need three to six months’ worth of expenses, including rent, in savings to be safe. And if you need more money, you will need to find more work.

After a financially devastating year, out-of-work Texans were dealt another blow this week when a congressional coronavirus relief package’s fate became uncertain after President Donald Trump threatened to veto it. Trump suggested Tuesday that he will veto the relief legislation Congress overwhelmingly passed, telling lawmakers to send Americans stimulus payments of up to $2,000 instead of the $600 outlined in the bill. The state still has $2 billion in unspent relief money from previous federal legislation. “I feel like I’m not going to see any relief.”Still, Johnson has followed the daily developments in the coronavirus relief negotiations going on in Washington. In August, the agency notified Makintubee, who lost his job in coffee sales and delivery in March, that he owed $7,800 to the state for what it said was overpayment of unemployment aid.

It may not be that you weren’t qualified, but that your resume wasn’t qualified, according to the applicant tracking system, or ATS. The first person to read your resume … isn’t a person at all! An applicant tracking system, or ATS, is software that weeds out job candidates that either don’t fit the description or had an unreadable resume. Forty-three percent of resumes are sent as an incompatible file type, and not every ATS can read PDF. If you want to check to see if your resume is readable to an ATS, go to www.topresume.com/resume-review for a free analysis.

MISSOURI CITY, Texas – Amazon announced Monday that it will open a 1-million-square-foot fulfillment center in Missouri City next year, creating more than 500 full-time jobs in the Houston area. “Missouri City and Amazon are alike when it comes to success, diversity, customer service and community,” said Missouri City Mayor Yolanda Ford. “We’re excited to be expanding our network of operations in Missouri City,” said Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon’s vice president of global customer fulfillment. “We are grateful for the strong support we’ve received from local and state leaders as we broaden our footprint throughout Texas. Every day at Amazon, incredible employees come together to deliver magical experiences for customers and we look forward to creating over 500 jobs for the local community, with industry-leading pay and comprehensive benefits starting on day one.”

Regular unemployment benefits:This traditional unemployment program provides assistance for up to 26 weeks per year. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA):If you apply for unemployment and the workforce commission finds that you do not qualify for regular benefits, the agency should automatically consider you for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and enroll you if you are found eligible. Here, under the claim information section, you will see your claim type listed as: Regular Unemployment Benefits, Disaster Unemployment Benefits (for now, this is the same as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance), or Temporary Unemployment Benefits (extensions). If you have exhausted your Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and have not recently been on regular unemployment, you don’t qualify for any kind of extension. Unless Congress takes action to extend the pandemic unemployment benefits in the CARES Act, two programs will expire after Dec. 26: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or PEUC.

HOUSTON – At least 500 ConocoPhillips employees could be laid off early next year. John Roper, spokesman for the Houston-based company, said severance notifications could begin as early as Feb. 1, but the exact number of employees is still being evaluated. “We have been transparent with employees that targeted workforce reductions in certain areas of our business may be necessary from time-to-time to align organizational capacity with expected future activity levels,” Roper said. “In light of this and in anticipation of our acquisition of Concho Resources, which is set to close in the first quarter of 2021, ConocoPhillips is taking actions to align our business to remain competitive.”Roper said the affected employees will be given a 60-day notice, severance and outplacement assistance.

HOUSTON – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that Hewlett Packard Enterprise is moving its headquarters from San Jose, California, to Spring, Texas. “Hewlett Packard Enterprise joins more than 50 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the Lone Star State, including 22 in the Houston area alone. The city’s efforts to bolster Houston’s position as a leading digital tech hub and global headquarters city are paying off. “Houston has long been a hub for global innovation and offers leading tech companies a deep bench of digital and corporate talent to drive success.

Election stress? “Election stress is something that existed even hundreds of years ago because people get fixated to the election,” he said. Free Job Training through Houston Community CollegeThe pandemic has been tough on thousands of people in our community and across the country. Thousands of jobs have been lost in our community and that’s what makes the free job training offerings from Houston Community College even more special. Houston Community College in partnership with Capital IDEA Houston is offering a free four week training to help students land jobs as computer support specialists.

The shooting happened early Sunday in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie. Police said in a statement that officers responded to a report of a shooting and found Hassell suffering from gunshot wounds. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP, File)GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – The actor Eddie Hassell, known for his roles in the NBC show “Surface” and the 2010 film “The Kids Are All Right,” has died after a shooting in Texas, police said. Grand Prairie police said in a statement that officers responded to a report of a shooting and found Hassell suffering from gunshot wounds. Grand Prairie police said the motive remained under investigation, but that a car had been taken from the scene of the shooting.

HOUSTON – Unemployed, and seeking a way to stand out on LinkedIn and present your best self when participating in virtual interviews? LinkedIn, Now Stand Out! So, make sure your interview set up is in a part of the home that has the strongest internet connection, and test it before your interview. Deborrah Ashley, The LinkedIn Blackbelt, of Thrivoo is a marketing expert who helps individuals and experts stand out on LinkedIn. In the video below Ashley offers strategies to help you stand out online and optimize your job search in just 40 minutes!

Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. The Texas unemployment rate rose to 8.3% in September, the Texas Workforce Commission said Friday, a sharp increase from the August unemployment rate of 6.8%. The announcement also shows that a lot of Texans are jobless seven months into the pandemic despite widespread business reopenings across the state. “What we saw with companies like the airlines and others is happening throughout the economy,” Rodriguez told The Texas Tribune. A spokesman for the workforce commission said next week’s release from the labor department will also show Texas' unemployment rate in September was 8.3%.

If you’re already doing it anyway, you might as well get paid. Cable TV and High Speed Internet are looking for one super fan to binge-watch horror movies on Halloween night for $1,000. We’re teaming up with @TeamHSI to pay one horror movie enthusiast $1000 to watch a 24 hour marathon of the scariest movies. https://t.co/diApIdzrPb pic.twitter.com/HDHucpU5Zx — CableTV.com (@CableTV) October 2, 2020The selected candidate is required to stream horror films of their choice for 24 hours and live-tweet throughout the movie marathon. To get through the night, the candidate will receive Halloween candy and a $50 Starbucks gift card for caffeinated beverages.

HOUSTON – The holiday shopping season is quickly approaching, and some companies will need some extra help to fulfill orders this year. Companies such as Target, Amazon, and FedEx are hiring seasonal workers for the holiday shopping season. FedExFexEx is hiring seasonal delivery drivers to quickly and efficiently deliver packages to customers during the holiday shopping season. Click here to applyUPSUPS is hiring seasonal delivery drivers to deliver holiday packages to customers during the shopping season. Macy’sMacy’s is hiring seasonal workers in all Macy’s locations in the Houston area, including the Galleria.

HOUSTON – In need of a job this holiday shopping season? The largest retail department store in the U.S. plans to hire 20,000 workers for their eCommerce fulfillment centers across the country. It is also paying attention to customer shopping trends and wish lists to prepare themselves for the upcoming holiday shopping season, such as matching the same in-store inventory on the Walmart website. Walmart will be closed Thanksgiving Day this year due to the pandemic, according to CNN business. Walmart has hired more than 500,000 workers since the beginning of the pandemic in March, the news release said.

There are more than half a million jobs available right now in Texas and many of them don’t require much experience to apply. I need a job,” Rodriguez said. She’s treating her job search like she has all of her jobs — with organization and a positive, “can-do” attitude. “Jobs do not require experience, they require a willingness to learn,” said Ardine Williams, Amazon’s Vice President of Workforce Development. “There are hundreds of jobs available across Houston,” Williams explained.

NEW YORK – Amazon will hire another 100,000 people to keep up with a surge of online orders. The company said Monday that the new hires will help pack, ship or sort orders, working in part-time and full-time roles. This time around, Amazon said it needs the people at the 100 new warehouses, package sorting centers and other facilities it's opening this month. In addition to the holiday shopping rush, Amazon plans to hold its one of its busiest shopping days, Prime Day, in the fall this year after postponing it from July. Amazon will be monitoring whether it needs to hire more workers for the holidays, but doesn't have anything to announce yet, Boler Davis said.

Here in Texas, 4.7 million unemployment insurance claims have been processed by the Texas Workforce Commission since March 14, 2020. When she filed for unemployment insurance benefits, her claim was successfully submitted and she began receiving payments. It said that you have been overpaid unemployment benefits. We cannot pay you benefits until the overpayment is paid, Jones said of the notice she received when she logged in to file her unemployment insurance claim. So if you owe money, and you cant afford to pay it back right now, its not going to go to collections.

All told, the government said that 13.3 million people are continuing to receive traditional jobless benefits, up from 1.7 million a year ago. The nearly 1 million people who keep applying for unemployment aid each week point to a sluggish pace of improvement. On Friday, when the government issues the jobs report for August, its expected to report that employers added roughly 1.4 million jobs last month. Yet many companies across the spectrum from small businesses to hotels, restaurants, airlines and entertainment venues remain deeply hurt by a loss of customers. Homebase, a provider of scheduling software for small businesses, reports that small business hiring has flat-lined since June.

More than 1.7 million Texans are receiving unemployment benefits during the recession, but more than 347,000 don't qualify for an extra $300 a week that could start this week. Those Texans could change their status when filling out future payment requests, Gamez said, and could then qualify for the extra $300 payments. In total, about 1.7 million Texans are currently receiving unemployment benefits, Gamez said, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to upend businesses across the state. Since Trump announced the extra weekly payments in early August, Texans have said theyve been confused about whether, and when, they will receive the money. But for the approximately 347,700 Texans who do not qualify, they will continue to see the same unemployment payments theyve been receiving in August, after the extra $600 weekly payments expired.

HOUSTON – As the coronavirus pandemic has forced companies to reimagine the way they do business, more opportunities for remote employment have emerged. DellIndustry: Computer TechnologyDell Technologies is searching for workers who can work remotely throughout the pandemic and also has listings for partial and fully remote positions. UnitedHealth GroupIndustry: Health careUnitedHealth Group has several listings for a range of positions that can work partially or fully remote. The company is seeking to fill roles in customer service, nursing, accounting, administration, and more. VerizonIndustry: TelecommunicationsVerizon is hiring professionals across a range of business categories to fill partial and fully remote positions.

The number of applications that were reported last week fell below 1 million after 20 straight weeks above that level. Before the viral outbreak, the weekly figure had never topped 700,000, even during the Great Recession. The latest string of layoffs follows the expiration of a $600 weekly federal check that provided vital support for millions of laid-off Americans. Negotiations in Congress to extend that benefit, though at a lower level of payment, have collapsed. The Trump administration is offering a new $300-a-week federal benefit, which states need to apply for and must revamp their computer systems to accommodate.

KPRC-TV, the Graham Media Group owned - NBC affiliate station in Houston, Texas is looking for a full time Director. Candidates must possess the creative skills to direct newscasts and other special programming in a fast pace live news environment. Must have strong knowledge of control room automation (Ross Automation is a plus). The Director works in conjunction with editorial and production personnel to execute newscasts utilizing an automated production control system or act as a traditional Technical Director when additional control room technicians are present. In addition to complying with the requirements of federal law, KPRC will comply with applicable state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.

At KPRC 2, we’re dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston.

For almost 40 years Wild West night club in the heart of Houston’s Richmond strip was wildly popular for its country music, dancing and bar. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting closures, the crowds at the Wild West just dried up and vanished, leaving the massive dance floor empty and the club on the verge of financial collapse. If you’re one of them and fear you’re about to lose your job, Texas Workforce Solutions has free one-on-one help for you. Search online job boardsOnline job boards like Work in Texas, Indeed or Career Builder can be treasure troves of job listings. If you’re going to attend a viritual job fair, here are some tips to prepare:Register for the online job fair in advanceTest your equipmentHave your resume readyPractice describing your skills, abilities and experienceUse complete sentencesFollow-up with the requested action3.

WASHINGTON The U.S. government will provide its latest report Thursday on the pace of layoffs, which have remained stuck at a high level since the viral pandemic erupted five months ago. Though the rate of applications for unemployment benefits has reached its lowest point since March, it has exceeded 1 million for 20 straight weeks well above the record high that predated the pandemic. The number of new confirmed cases has declined over the past couple of weeks but is still far above the levels that prevailed in May and June. The latest string of layoffs follows the expiration of a $600 weekly federal payment that provided critical support for millions of laid-off Americans. Negotiations in Congress to extend that benefit, likely at a lower level of payment, have collapsed in rancor.

The jobs report for July being released Friday will provide the clearest answer yet. Economists have forecast that employers added 1.6 million jobs, according to a survey by data provider FactSet. Yet it would still fall far short of June's 4.8 million increase and May's 2.7 million gain. Some economists say Friday's report could even show that the nation lost jobs in July. Once an economy starts to recover, companies typically try to derive as much production from their existing employees as they can before taking the risk of hiring more people.

Schlumberger is cutting more than 21,000 jobs as the global coronavirus pandemic quashes demand for energy and oil prices are routed. The company will pay more than $1 billion in severance benefits. On Thursday, American Airlines posted a loss of more than $2 billion, and Southwest Airlines said it lost $915 million. That pushed the combined second-quarter loss of the nations four biggest airlines to more than $10 billion. The company said Friday that second quarter revenue plunged 35% and it lost $3.43 billion.

HOUSTON Still looking for a job amid the coronavirus pandemic? Dominos in Houston may have a spot waiting for you. The pizza chain is looking to hire 300 employees for assistant manager and delivery driver positions across 65 franchise-owned stores in the Greater Houston area, including Baytown, Pasadena, Katy and Galveston. Dominos is committed to providing hot, great-tasting pizza and outstanding service to customers, said Marvin Villanueva, Dominos director of corporate operations in Houston in a release. Dominos is also hiring general managers and customer service representatives in several stores.

HOUSTON More than 70 workers at the Saint Arnold Beer Garden and Restaurant are in danger of being laid off and the brewery blames a new interpretation of Gov. Greg Abbotts bar-closure order for the possible cuts. Officials at the brewery said Monday that state officials have abruptly changed the way brewery restaurants are categorized, lumping in distributor sales of alcohol into the sales of the restaurant. This means the sales of alcohol now exceed the 51% rule set forth in Abbotts order that closed bars more than two weeks ago. We are calling on the governor to make this easy fix so we can retain the 75 coworkers whose positions will otherwise be eliminated.Wagner said that as of Monday, Saint Arnold moved to a skeleton crew that will sell beer and will only offer food to go.

But it could cost the Treasury as much as 9.4 billion pounds, and critics are wondering whether it makes sense. Though he acknowledged he couldn't save every job, Sunak told the BBC he was "throwing everything,' he could at stemming the losses. We are entering one of the most severe recessions this country has ever seen, Sunak told the BBC. The government hopes employers will help get the country back on track during a severe downturn - in March and April alone, the U.K. economy shrank 25%. Many economists think unemployment could more than double to over 3 million this year, to levels last seen in the 1980s.