In January 2025, a series of destructive wildfires in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and San Diego County killed as many as 440 people, forced more than 200,000 to evacuate their homes, destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures, and burned over 57,000 acres of land. A study by the nonpartisan California Policy Lab found that the fires also had a significant impact on employment in the area.
According to the report, unemployment claims increased between 12% and 17% due to the January fires. An estimated 6,300-8,700 employees in Los Angeles filed for regular unemployment insurance because of the wildfires.
Unemployment claims surged not only in the actual fire zones but also among people living far from the fires who commuted to work in the fire areas. There were large increases in claims from workers in low-wage industries like accommodation and food services, and workers with low levels of education, especially in neighborhoods where many residents commute to fire-affected areas.
An additional 5,000 workers filed for the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, including gig workers, independent contractors, and the self-employed – people who are usually excluded from regular unemployment insurance. This brought the total number of workers who filed due to the fires to between 11,300 and 13,700.
The study highlighted the critical role that unemployment insurance benefits can play after natural disasters. The fires were a disaster for everyone.
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Photo, posted January 8, 2025, courtesy of Cory Doctorow via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio