COLUMBUS – The number of Ohioans filing first-time claims for unemployment during the last week of February was 19% higher than the week before but the state says 21,000 of the more than 120,000 initial claims have been flagged for potential fraud.
Governor MIke DeWine Monday announced the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has signed a contract with IBM to improve the unemployment call center, which has struggled to keep up with the flood of claims during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a contract with LexisNexis to assist the department with on-going efforts to keep fraud out of the system.
Matt Damschroder, acting director of the department, estimates that Ohioans wait an estimated two weeks longer than usual to receive benefits if their claim is investigated for potential fraud.
Ohio workers filed 120,446 initial jobless claims for the week of Feb. 21-27, according to statistics ODJFS reported to the U.S. Department of Labor. That is 18,621 more than the week before.
Ohioans filed 327,382 continued jobless claims last week, indicating that the pandemic continues to weigh on the state’s economy.
Convenience-store chain Sheetz will be hiring 2,500 employees in Columbus over the next two years and is hosting hiring events to fill positions at 50 stores it plans to open by 2025.
The state Monday unveiled a fully redesigned, more accessible OhioMeansJobs.com website for jobseekers and employers.
Users will find it much easier to register for an account, navigate job opportunities, and apply for positions on mobile devices, all driven by user feedback and upgraded technology tools.