Multi-Sector How are Google searches for unemployment trending in Europe vs. the US?

Covid-19 has resulted in economic uncertainty and job losses worldwide. Google unemployment search activity shows a sharp divergence in top-of-mind awareness between Europe and the US.

16 Apr 2020
  • Search activity in the US at the beginning of April was more than 20x the level in mid-March.
  • Search interest in France began to rise relatively early but has since fallen close to pre-March levels.
  • Germany also saw a notable increase in search, but it has declined there as well.
  • Note that unemployment searches have tended to decline during weekends.
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Google searches for unemployment in Europe vs. the US

Source: UBS Evidence Lab, Google

Note: The numbers refer to an index of Google searches for unemployment as a share of total searches in each geography.