18 million reporting “temporary lay off” while 2 million jobs permanently eliminated. Other tidbits: Employment in information fell by 254,000 in April, driv

18 million reporting “temporary lay off” while 2 million jobs permanently eliminated. Other tidbits: Employment in information fell by 254,000 in April, driven by a decline in motion picture and sound recording industries (-217,000). The labor force participation rate decreased by 2.5 percentage points over the month to 60.2 percent, the lowest rate since January 1973 (when it was 60.0 percent). Total employment, as measured by the household survey, fell by 22.4 million to 133.4 million. The employment-population ratio, at 51.3 percent, dropped by 8.7 percentage points over the month. This is the lowest rate and largest over-the-month decline in the history of the series (seasonally adjusted data are available back to January 1948). (See table A-1.)