Unemployment claims rise

SANDUSKY — As COVID-19 cases rise, so does the number of people applying for unemployment benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of Americans who filed unemployment benefit claims increased by 31,000 to reach 742,000 during the week ending on Nov. 14. CNN Business reported it was the first increase in unemployment claims since Oct. 10. At the state level, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services recorded an increase of more than 3,000 from the previous week to reach almost 25,000 claims. But the number of new claims is still about 252,000 fewer than the peak in the spring when the virus forced several businesses to close. The number of continued requests is also about 515,000 fewer than at the peak. Since the pandemic caused a massive increase in unemployment claims, the department has distributed more than $7.2 billion in compensation payments to more than 839,000 Ohioans. It also circulated an additional $7 billion in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to more than 682,000 people. To help the state recover, the department has several initiatives, including $8.5 million in the National Dislocated Worker grant and a $9.4 million grant to expand apprenticeship programs.