As the world is slowly trying to get back to some kind of normalcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the question remains: Where do we go from here?

       With unemployment numbers fluctuating every day, the Tribune will talk to Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst and Washington bureau chief for Bankrate.com, on Wednesday in a Facebook Live conversation.

       The Labor Department said Thursday that jobless claims increased last week to 419,000, the most in two months, from 368,000 the previous week. The number of first-time applications, which generally tracks layoffs, has fallen steadily since topping 900,000 in early January, according to an Associated Press report.

       As the pandemic has significantly shifted where citizens are starting to go shopping, go to restaurants and travel, the state of unemployment is still at a questionable rate.

       Hiring has picked up though businesses say they often can’t find enough employees at the wages they’re willing to pay, according to The Associated Press.

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       We will ask Hamrick about economic recovery, gender equality in the workplace and what we can expect in the future regarding job security.

       As analysts become greatly concerned about the economic consequences of unemployment, Hamrick will answer those burning questions many people have when it comes to getting back into the workplace and returning to a new normal.

       Hamrick is knowledgeable about the economy at large, including labor and workplace issues. He has talked with the Tribune in the past regarding local stories about jobless claims and unemployment.

       He is an award-winning business and financial journalist who joined Bankrate following his position leading business news for Associated Press broadcast in Washington for almost 20 years.

       The link to the Facebook Live stream will go live on the Tribune’s Facebook page at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, where we will answer any questions regarding where we stand now as a country when it comes to unemployment.

       Our COVID-19 Q&A is continuously updated. If you have a question that we haven’t answered yet, send it to chicagotribune.com/ask.

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