New unemployment filings reached the lowest they’ve been since the coronavirus pandemic began more than 11 months ago, the state Labor Department reported Thursday.
Another 11,563 new claims were filed last week, a drop of 29% from the week before, and lower than the four-week average of 16,100, the department said. The total of unemployment claims since the pandemic shuttered businesses and led to economic downturn loss across the state exceeds 2 million.
The previous low in claims was in November, when 12,192 new were filed.
The state also distributed $455 million in unemployment benefits last week, bringing the total of pandemic-related unemployment payouts to $22.8 billion, the Labor Department said, calling it an “unprecedented increase.”
The spike in benefits is a primary reason for New Jersey residents’ income rising 7.3% in the third quarter of 2020, the Labor Department said, citing research from Pew Charitable Trusts. The Garden State is also one of seven states that saw a more than 50% increase in government aid from 2019, according to the Labor Department.
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage
“Department of Labor staff are reminded every day of the tremendous toll COVID-19 is taking on New Jersey workers and businesses,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo.
“That’s why we are pushing forward on dual fronts – first, and foremost, serving workers in need, and secondly, urging Congress to pass a new, comprehensive and long-term relief bill before current benefits expire on March 13, which could leave millions of workers across the country temporarily and devastatingly without benefits.”
Asaro-Angelo has been calling on the federal government for weeks to pass a coronavirus relief bill ahead of the current stimulus package expiring, ensuring that state Labor Departments would have ample time to institute new programming for any new or extended programs.
Because Congress and former President Donald Trump allowed the first stimulus package to lapse for one day before signing the second stimulus, 75,000 New Jersey claimants were stuck in limbo as the state scrambled to program the unemployment system for the new 11-week benefit extension.
While the Department of Labor reported more than 300,000 claimants were moved over without issue, tens of thousands were left without benefits for nearly five weeks. Some are still reporting problems certifying, but the Labor Department says the 11-week extension was resolved, and anyone still waiting for their money is facing a unique issue.
The average claimant has received roughly $15,550, the department said. About 84% of claimants have received more than $10,000 in benefit, while 60% have received more than $20,000 and 20% have received more than $30,000.
The Department of Labor continues to distribute retroactive payments to claimants who have not received their funds, including the Lost Wages Assistance payments funded by FEMA and other jobless benefits.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz.
Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
"low" - Google News
February 19, 2021 at 05:53AM
https://ift.tt/37u7sgp
N.J. unemployment claims reach new low since pandemic began - NJ.com
"low" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2z1WHDx
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "N.J. unemployment claims reach new low since pandemic began - NJ.com"
Post a Comment