在过去5周里，美国约有2650万失业人士向政府寻求经济援助。该数字证实美国过去10年获得的所有工作机会都在新冠病毒大流行期间消失殆尽。
The rising levels of unemployment provide evidence for economists' claims that the U.S. economy entered recession in March. They also point to a collapse in retail and home sales, manufacturing production and homebuilding.
失业率上升为经济学家所宣称的美国经济在3月份进入衰退提供了证据。他们还指出零售和房屋销售，制造业生产和建筑业发生崩盘。
As the economic slowdown deepens, some Americans are protesting nationwide measures to control the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. President Donald Trump is worried and wants to restart the economy as soon as possible. He is seeking a second term in elections later this year.
随着经济放缓的加剧，一些美国人开始抗议为控制新冠肺炎传播而采取的全国性措施。川普总统也很担心，并希望尽快重启经济。川普正寻求在今年年底的大选中连任。
On Wednesday, Trump praised decisions made by some states to begin reopening their economies. Those states are governed by members of his Republican Party. U.S. health experts have warned of a possible increase in infections if areas reopen before the disease is under control.
周三，川普赞扬了一些州做出的开始重启经济的决定。这些州由他所在的共和党的成员所领导。美国卫生专家警告说，如果在疾病得到控制前重新开放该地区，感染可能会增加。
The labor market is pushing into "new territory," notes Daniel Zhao, an economist with Glassdoor, a company that helps jobseekers. He added that the unemployment rate is already greater than the during the Great Recession .
协助求职者的玻璃门公司的经济学家丹尼尔·赵指出，劳动力市场正在进入新领域。他还说，失业率已经高于大萧条时期。
The federal government reported Thursday that in the week ending April 18, more than 4.4 million unemployed Americans sought benefits from the government. Since March 21, over 26 million people have asked for government assistance. That represents 16.2 percent of the work force.
美国联邦政府周四报告称，截至4月18日的这周里，有超过440万美国失业人士向政府申请失业补助。自3月21日以来，已经有超过2600万申请政府援助。该数字占到了全部劳动力的16.2%。
The U.S. economy created 22 million jobs between September 2010 and February 2020. That represents the longest increase in job growth in U.S. history.
在2010年9月到2020年2月期间，美国经济创造了2200万个就业机会。这是美国历史上就业增长最久的一次。
The Labor Department said the high numbers of unemployed were because of "the COVID-19 virus."
美国劳工部表示，大量失业是由于新冠肺炎导致的。
Economists are saying as many as 25 million jobs were lost in April, which was the largest decrease in 11 years.
经济学家表示，4月份失业人数高达2500万，这是11年以来的最大减幅。
Is the worst over?
最糟糕时期过去了吗？
Although the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits is high, it is decreasing. The number appeared to have reached a peak -- a record 6.867 million -- in the week ending March 28.
尽管申请失业救济的美国人数量很高，但是该数字正在下降。在截至3月28日的这周里，这一数字似乎达到了最高点，也就是创纪录的686.7万。
Job losses are likely "to continue across a number of industries in coming weeks, said Andrew Hollenhorst, an economist at Citigroup in New York.
花旗集团驻纽约经济学家安德鲁·霍尔伦霍斯特表示，未来几周里，许多行业的失业可能会继续增加。
The decrease in unemployment claims is partly a result of congressional legislation. Under a $2.3 trillion program, small businesses are offered loans that could be partially forgiven if they are used to pay their workers.
失业人数减少的部分原因可能是国会立法。根据一项2.3万亿美元的计划，向小企业提供的贷款如果被用于支付员工工资，则可以部分免除还款。
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved $484 billion in additional aid. If it becomes law, the measure would mostly expand loans for small businesses.
美国参议院周二批准了4840亿美元的新增援助。如果此举获得通过，将主要用于扩大对小企业的贷款。
The government aid is designed to prevent additional unemployment.
政府援助旨在防止新增失业。
Economists will continue to study the number of Americans who asked the government for jobless benefits. This number is considered a truer picture of total unemployment nationwide. In the week ending April 11, the number was nearly 16 million.
经济学家将会继续研究向政府申请失业救济的美国人的数量。该数字被认为是全国总失业率的真实体现。在截至4月11日的这周里，该数字接近1600万。
Economists believe the unemployment rate this month will be the highest since the end of World War II. The old record -- of 10.8 percent – was set in November 1982. The April totals will not, however, come near the 25 percent unemployment rate in 1933 during the Great Depression.
经济学家认为，本月的失业率将是二战结束以来的最高水平。原来10.8%的失业率记录是在1982年11月创下的。但是4月份的总失业率没法赶上1933年大萧条时期25%的失业率。
I'm Jonathan Evans.
我是乔纳森·埃文斯。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，禁止转载，违者必究！)