New unemployment claims in Tennessee and across the nation continue to climb at an alarming rate amid this COVID-19 pandemic.
The week ending April 4, there were 112,438 new unemployment claims in Tennessee. That makes over 246,000 claims in the past three weeks. For a reference, there were only 2,702 claims the week of March 14, the week just before the pandemic hit.
Nationally, 6.6 million Americans filed for benefits last week, which brings the total to over 17 million.
Many economists now put the US unemployment rate at 13 percent, although official numbers have not been released.
Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding Unemployment Insurance claims:
"Today's report continues to reflect the purposeful sacrifice being made by America's workers and their families to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Trump Administration is swiftly implementing the historic relief program the President signed into law last month, providing unprecedented support to American workers and small businesses during these challenging times. Earlier this week, the Department of Labor provided States the essential guidance they need to distribute the enhanced, $600 weekly unemployment benefit under the CARES Act. States have already begun making these payments, and additional States will follow as they complete their preparations. The Department continues to work closely with the States to support this process."
Federal Level Reports:
"The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 5.6 percent during the week ending March 28, an increase of 3.2 percentage points from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 8,177,965, an increase of 4,761,372 (or 139.4 percent) from the preceding week. The seasonal factors had expected a decrease of 61,174 (or -1.8 percent) from the previous week. A year earlier the rate was 1.3 percent and the volume was 1,861,690."
The week ending April 4, there were 112,438 new unemployment claims in Tennessee. That makes over 246,000 claims in the past three weeks. For a reference, there were only 2,702 claims the week of March 14, the week just before the pandemic hit.
Nationally, 6.6 million Americans filed for benefits last week, which brings the total to over 17 million.
Many economists now put the US unemployment rate at 13 percent, although official numbers have not been released.
Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding Unemployment Insurance claims:
"Today's report continues to reflect the purposeful sacrifice being made by America's workers and their families to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Trump Administration is swiftly implementing the historic relief program the President signed into law last month, providing unprecedented support to American workers and small businesses during these challenging times. Earlier this week, the Department of Labor provided States the essential guidance they need to distribute the enhanced, $600 weekly unemployment benefit under the CARES Act. States have already begun making these payments, and additional States will follow as they complete their preparations. The Department continues to work closely with the States to support this process."
Federal Level Reports:
"The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 5.6 percent during the week ending March 28, an increase of 3.2 percentage points from the prior week. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 8,177,965, an increase of 4,761,372 (or 139.4 percent) from the preceding week. The seasonal factors had expected a decrease of 61,174 (or -1.8 percent) from the previous week. A year earlier the rate was 1.3 percent and the volume was 1,861,690."