The official unemployment rate in the eurozone hasn’t spiked to nearly the same degree as the U.S.
The official eurozone unemployment rate only rose to 7.9%, in July, from 7.2% before the pandemic. In the U.S., the jobless rate spiked as high as 14.7% from 3.5% in March. The U.S. unemployment rate has subsequently declined to 8.4% in August.
But behind those numbers lie two issues that are masking the jobless problem in Europe, according to a new report from Marc de Muizon, an economist at Deutsche Bank in London.
First, he notes, are the furlough programs across Europe. The way Eurostat measures employment, even workers on zero-hours are counted as employed. De Muizon estimates between 5% and 10% of all workers were on a furlough program in the four major eurozone economies of Germany, France, Italy, and Spain in August.
The Spanish furlough has been unique in that employers there tended to have their furloughed employees completely out of work, rather than just working reduced hours.
Another issue is that those workers who lost their jobs weren’t able to look for a new one. Without school closures and lockdowns, in the second half of 2020 these people should start appearing in unemployment rate statistics, he says.
| AREA | UNEMPLOYMENT RATE Q4 2019 | LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE | ‘LATENT’ UNEMPLOYMENT RATE |
| Germany | 3.2% | 4.5% | 4.9% |
| France | 8.1% | 7.1% | 10.4% |
| Italy | 9.5% | 9.7% | 11.4% |
| Spain | 13.8% | 15.3% | 19.7% |
| Big Four | 7.8% | 8.3% | 10.4% |
| Source: Deutsche Bank/Eurostat/National statistics offices | |||
By the end of 2021, de Muizon expects the official unemployment rate in the euro area to top 10%.
Data released on Tuesday showed the fifth straight gain for eurozone economic sentiment in September. Employment expectations of consumers rose for a fifth month, but remain below the levels of February.
Out with grimy microwaves and sticky coffee machines with worn-out buttons, in with stylus pens, QR codes, no-touch water coolers and mobile apps that pick what brew the machine will make for you.
From the headquarters of Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, and Goldman Sachs in New York to FedEx facilities across the United States, workers are returning after months of lockdowns to the new reality of social distancing, hybrid remote, and office work schedules, and strict hygiene protocols.
The break room, where employees used to get their daily fix of caffeine and office gossip, is a big part of that reboot as coffee companies, such as Keurig Dr. Pepper KDP.O, Lavazza and Nestle NESN.S roll out new technology for the COVID-19 era.
Nestle says it has worked with manufacturers to add a function to its coffeemakers that let users make a selection by just hovering a finger over the menu and has been delivering those to clients since June.
Lavazza launched a new model in September that works with a mobile app to whip up those cappuccinos and lattes without having to touch the machine.
U.S. coffee machine manufacturer Bunn has chosen a different approach, retrofitting its machines with a QR code that lets users order drinks through a webpage.
Last year, supplying offices with beans and brewers was a $5.7 billion business in the United States alone, according to research firm Packaged Facts. Coffee companies, which saw lockdowns wipe out so-called professional sales that also include the hospitality industry, bet they can revive that business by addressing workers’ and employers’ concerns.
DASH FOR AN APP
Lavazza had a new brewer slated to debut at a trade show in May, but started redesigning it to add a touchless function when the pandemic struck in March, Bruce Williamson, vice president of innovation and marketing at Lavazza Professional said.
“We had to very quickly use the weeks (we had) preparing for an app.”
Williamson said a survey of about 170 consumers across the United States Lavazza commissioned in August validated its decision. It showed 40% of employees expected to leave the building less often to get a drink and to rely more on office supplies but were nervous about infection risks.
“What they are telling us is... ‘I’m going to come back to the office but I’m nervous about touching the machine’.”
Employers, suppliers, and designers are also experimenting with a one-stop service that allows office workers to refuel without going outside, while those working remotely can do it from the comfort of their home.
K-cup pod maker Keurig is supplying coffee for ‘mini-marts’ set up to replace office cafeterias and offering fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, coffee, and other staples. It has also signed deals with several companies that have classified K-cup pods and brewers essential work items and pay for their deliveries to staff working remotely, said Phil Drapeau, the company’s general manager for the ‘Away from Home’ business.
(Graphic: All the buzz: Coffee companies leading in the workplace - here)
Ford F.N said more than 100,000 people out of its global workforce of 190,000 have returned to its facilities since May, but cafe service remains suspended and it offers pre-packaged meals and beverages instead. The carmaker is also testing onsite grocery kiosks selling locally sourced dairy, produce, and meal prep kits.
Goldman Sachs GS.N told Reuters that 15% of its New York workforce is back with standard precautions in place - mandatory masks in all areas except employee desks and limits on the number of people in conference rooms and common areas.
RETHINK AND RECALIBRATE
Surveys and official guidelines suggest offices will fill up only gradually and might even never return to pre-pandemic capacity.
GoodFirms, a Washington, D.C.-based research firm, said this month its international survey of 168 businesses showed nearly a third of workers had already returned and nearly 60% wanted to do so, but more than half remained concerned about their safety.
A makeover of office catering was important for addressing such concerns, says Alicia LeBeouf, marketing and retail strategy executive at food service company Canteen, which counts FedEx FDX.N, Pinterest PINS.N, Target TGT.N and UPS UPS.N among its clients.
Buffets and chefs preparing meals on-demand are replaced by grab-and-go food stations at Verizon VZ.N and UnitedHealth Group Inc UNH.N; contactless coffee machines get rolled out at Microsoft Corp MSFT.O; fridges get pedal-operated doors at Mohawk Industries MHK.N and individually wrapped plastic utensils replace cutlery.
At a FedEx facility Canteen has replaced all card payment terminals at its grab-and-go stations with Canteen’s “Connect & Pay” app, which also shows which items are available and their nutritional information.
The layout also needs to change, says Tom Vecchione, workplace strategist at New York architecture firm Vocon. The company is knocking down doors and removing screens for its clients to create more spacious common areas that make social distancing easier while replacing chairs with stools
to discourage people from lingering for too long.
Canteen’s LeBeouf said employers were banking on workers coming back, but they would not be returning to the same office they left before the pandemic.
“We’ve had to recalibrate and...rethink everything.”