COLUMBUS – The number of Ohioans filing claims for unemployment benefits rose for the fifth straight week, despite a drop in those filing first-time claims, indicating the pace of layoffs may be slowing even as the fast-spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus continued to disrupt the job market nationwide.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported on Thursday that 12% fewer Ohioans filed initial claims last week. It was the first drop in first-time claims since early December.
The 60,217 filings for continued benefits was 5.3% higher than the week that ended on Jan. 8 and the total number of claims was up 1.3%.
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose for the third straight week to the highest level in three months.
A surge in COVID cases has set back what had been a strong comeback from last year’s short but devastating coronavirus recession.