In an Inweekly/Political Matrix poll of 719 Escambia County residents, we found 26.4% had either lost their jobs, been furloughed or had their hours cut as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Have you been laid off, furloughed, or lost hours at work, due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
| Responses: 719 | Total | % |
| Yes | 192 | 26.7% |
| No | 527 | 73.3% |
Of those out of work, 38.5% had filed for reemployment assistance benefits—of which only 28.4% had received unemployment checks.
Have you applied for State Reemployment Assistance or other assistance programs?
| Responses: 192 | Total | % |
| Yes | 74 | 38.5% |
| No | 91 | 47.4% |
| No, but intend to file | 15 | 7.8% |
| No, and don’t intend to file | 12 | 6.2% |
The vast majority of the unemployed said they would reenter the work force –59.4% planned to return to their old jobs, 22.9% intended to seek employment in the same field and 11.5% would seek jobs in another field. Only 6.2% said they didn’t intended to seek a job at this time.
Since you have applied for Reemployment Assistance, have you received any assistance?
| Responses: 74 | Total | % |
| Yes | 21 | 28.4% |
| No | 53 | 71.6% |
Out of those not looking for employment currently, 50% said there were no jobs available for them at this time. The other half was equally split between those who said their company was not open and those planning to seek further training or education. Lack of child care was not a factor for those who responded.
If you have been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, do you intend to reenter the workforce?
| Responses: 192 | Total | % |
| Yes, I intend to be reemployed where I was working | 114 | 59.4% |
| Yes, I intend to seek employment in the same field | 44 | 22.9% |
| Yes, I intend to seek employment in another field | 22 | 11.5% |
| No, I don’t intend to seeking employment at this time | 12 | 6.2% |
Among those unemployed, 46.4% said they were behind on their monthly bills.
| Responses: 192 | Total | % |
| Yes | 89 | 46.4% |
| No | 103 | 53.6% |
Of those still working, 60.5% felt safe in their work environment.
| Responses: 527 | Total | % |
| Yes | 319 | 60.5% |
| No | 208 | 39.5% |
The persons sampled were Escambia County registered voters. The voters called had cell phones and landlines and were called using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system during the hours of 5-8 p.m. between May 8-10. The Margin of Error for this study is +/ 3.5% with a confidence level of 95%.