COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported that 34,575 Ohioans were among the nearly 1.9 million people who filed initial unemployment claims across the nation last week, an indication that many employers are still cutting jobs even as the gradual reopening of businesses has slowed the pace of layoffs.
Individuals are encouraged to file their claims online, if possible.
Those without internet access can call 1-877-644-6562 (OHIO-JOB) from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sundays.
The number of initial claims for unemployment benefits filed in Ohio over the last 11 weeks has risen to 1.2 million, more than the combined total of claims filed during the last three years.
Ohio’s unemployment rate of 16.8% in April was the highest since the state’s current record keeping system was developed almost 50 years ago.
Over the last 11 weeks, the department has distributed more than $3.5 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 668,000 claimants. Of the more than 1 million applications the agency has received, nearly 94% have been processed.
In addition, the state has paid out more than $1.1 billion in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments to more than 166,000 workers who traditionally would not qualify for unemployment benefits, such as the self-employed and those who did not earn enough.
The total number of people who are receiving jobless aid nationwide rose slightly to 21.5 million, down from a peak of nearly 25 million two weeks ago but still at a historically high level.
It shows that scattered rehiring is offsetting only some of the ongoing layoffs with the economy mired in a recession.
The state Department of Health Thursday reported 37,282 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 2,339 deaths.
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Governor Mike DeWine canceled his scheduled coronavirus briefing for Thursday afternoon out of respect for the memorial service for George Floyd, the black man whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police May 25 touched off a week pf protests in Columbus and around the nation.
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The Columbus Metropolitan Library is expanding its curbside pickup service to two additional branches starting June 8: Northside Branch, 1423 N. High Street and Shepard Branch, 850 N. Nelson Road.
This brings the total number of branches offering curbside pickup to 13.