COLUMBUS – The number of Ohioans collecting unemployment benefits plummeted last week, reflecting the end of a federal pandemic relief program and a continuing economic recovery.
Ohioans filed 54% fewer continued traditional unemployment claims last week than the week before and 69% fewer than a spike on Sept. 18 after discontinued pandemic unemployment assistance benefits were included in the data. The federal program ended on Sept. 4.
Ohioans filed 9,222 initial claims for unemployment benefits last week, 9% fewer than the week that ended on Sept. 25.
The total number of traditional claims filed from Sept. 26 through Oct. 2 was 50% fewer than the previous week.
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell by 38,000 to 326,000, the first drop in four weeks, another sign that the U.S. job market and economy continue their steady recovery from last year’s coronavirus recession.