Nearly 28 thousand Ohioans filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits last week, bringing the state's pandemic total to over 1.9 million.
Nearly 257 thousand people filed continuing claims. And the Labor Department says 712 thousand Americans filed first-time claims last week, down by 75 thousand from the previous week. The feds say it's the latest sign the U.S. economy and job market remain under stress, and many employers are still cutting jobs.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is announcing new requirements for those filing new unemployment claims. Spokesperson Bruce Madson says applicants will have to fulfill certain work-search activities:
Madsen says an expiring section of state law is forcing the the new requirements, which will be waived for anyone who is required to quarantine because of COVID-19:
More information is available at unemploymenthelp.ohio.gov.