New applications for unemployment benefits in Ohio continue on increasing trend

COLUMBUS — Initial claims for unemployment benefits in Ohio continued on an increasing trend from the previous week, the fourth straight week of increases, according to new data released by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.

>>PREVIOUS REPORT: Initial claims for unemployment benefits continue to increase in Ohio

Last week, 20,131 new unemployment applications were filed, which was an increase of 8 percent from the previous week, according to JFD data.

However, while first-time applications continue to increase, continued claims filed have continued to decrease over the past several weeks. Last week, over 287,000 continued claims were filed, down four percent from the around 300,000 that filed the previous week.

The total number of applications remains historically high, with the total number of claims over 615 percent from this time last year.

In the last 30 weeks, over 1.7 million Ohioans have filed initial jobless claims, which is more tan the combined total filed in the last four years. Over $6.9 billion in compensation payments have been paid to over 821,000 Ohioans during the same 30 week time frame.

Cox Media Group