Economy

At a time when local news outlets have about as big of an ongoing news story as they can get, many are going to have to cover it with less help.

It isn’t heavily dependent on tourism or conventions, and it has relatively few hotel rooms. It isn’t home to any casinos and doesn’t host headquarters for any major airlines, energy companies, automakers or cruise lines, among others who have been hardest hit.

As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on and Central Massachusetts business owners adjust to a shifting economic and regulatory environment, area experts are cautioning company heads to stay abreast of ever-changing tides – and to make sure emergency plans are in place to protect work and cash flow.

The Worcester metropolitan area is most heavily concentrated in jobs in manufacturing, health care and education. Thankfully, during the coronavirus pandemic, it isn't reliant on energy jobs or tourism.

Initial unemployment claims in Massachusetts hit nearly 148,000 in the week ending March 21 in the first such sign of how many people are left jobless — at least temporarily — because of the coronavirus epidemic and related forced business closures.

A new hiring portal developed by the City of Worcester, MassHire and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce will help connect job seekers with essential service providers looking to hire more help in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

The impact of the efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus hit hard and fast in the Central Massachusetts economy.

Gov. Baker on Monday outlined a stay-at-home advisory and also ordered all non-essential businesses to close their physical operations to workers and customers, taking a step he has resisted for days as other states like New York have implemented similar measures.

Citing heightened risks that low-wage workers and immigrants face during the coronavirus outbreak, a coalition of public health experts and activists called Friday for officials to ensure equity in the state's response to the virus.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Central Massachusetts small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus.