COLUMBUS – The number of Ohioans filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits dropped for the second week in a row, indicating a slowdown in the rate of layoffs, but the total number of unemployment claims processed by the state increased, suggesting the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic recession is still uneven.
The 9,684 initial claims for unemployment benefits filed during the week that ended Aug. 14 was 8% lower than the week before but the total number of traditional and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims was 6% higher, according to data the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services provided to the U.S. Department of Labor Thursday.
Nationally, the number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week for a fourth straight time to a pandemic low, the latest sign that America’s job market is rebounding as employers boost hiring to meet a surge in consumer demand.
The Labor Department reported that jobless claims fell by 29,000 to 348,000.
The dwindling number of first-time jobless claims has coincided with the widespread administering of vaccines, which has led businesses to reopen or expand their hours and drawn consumers back to shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.