COLUMBUS – The number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits in Ohio climbed for the second straight week while the number of Ohioans filing continued claims dropped during the first week of June.
The number of Ohioans filing initial claims for jobless benefits increased by 16.4% to 16,224 during the week that ended June 5, while the number of workers filing continued claims fell by 11%.
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell for the sixth straight week as the U.S. economy reopens rapidly after being held back for months by the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the mixed data illustrates the difficulty some employers are experiencing finding workers to fill available positions.
The total number of workers claiming unemployment benefits in Ohio was 471,850. That includes traditional benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments to individuals who traditionally do not qualify for unemployment benefits and represented a 4.5% decline from the week before, according to data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 376,000 from 385,000 the week before, a 2% decline.