Unemployment notes: Nebraska received about 8,200 new jobless claims last week
New applications for unemployment benefits are up by nearly 20 percent in Colorado after the first round of gig and self-employed workers were able to apply for help under a new federal program established to respond to the coronavirus economic shutdown.
By News Channel NebraskaLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska received nearly 8,200 new unemployment claims last week as the fallout from coronavirus-related restrictions on business continued.
The latest number from the U.S. Department of Labor is about 4,000 lower than the previous week, but is still higher than average. The number of new claims has been falling since it peaked at a record-setting surge of 26,700 in early April.
Unemployment has soared in Nebraska and nationally due to state-mandated social distancing restrictions on businesses as well as Americans who are staying sheltered at home to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
Unemployment applications rise as gig workers get to file
DENVER (AP) — New applications for unemployment benefits are up by nearly 20 percent in Colorado after the first round of gig and self-employed workers were able to apply for help under a new federal program established to respond to the coronavirus economic shutdown.
The state labor department said Thursday that about 79,000 people filed initial unemployment claims last week. Just over half of them gig and self-employed workers.
The latest round of applications raised the number of new people who have sought unemployment benefits over the last five weeks in Colorado to 358,489.
The department's senior economist says it's too early to say whether unemployment claims due to the outbreak have peaked yet.
Another 2,886 people file unemployment claims in Wyoming
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — New state and federal data show that another 2,886 people filed for unemployment benefits in Wyoming last week.
That raises the total number of unemployment claims in the state to nearly 30,000 people since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in mid-March.
The number of applications submitted during the week ending April 25 is down 34% from the previous week. But that is a 909% increase compared to a year ago.
There were 404 confirmed coronavirus cases in Wyoming and seven deaths as of Wednesday.