Record MA Unemployment Claims Follow Coronavirus Shutdowns

BOSTON — Nearly 148,000 Massachusetts residents applied for unemployment benefits in the days after Gov. Charlie Baker closed schools and restaurant dining rooms and limited the size of public gatherings.

During the same week a year ago, just 4,200 Massachusetts residents filed for unemployment. The biggest weekly claims number in Massachusetts during the Great Recession came in December 2008, when 22,028 people filed for unemployment during a single week. In 2008, however, layoffs came in waves over the course of several months.

Previously on Patch: MA Hotel, Restaurant Workers Losing Jobs In Latest Layoff Report

The new data covers claims filed between March 15, the day Baker first ordered shutdowns, and March 21. Nationally, 3.28 million workers filed for unemployment benefits. Unlike the national figures, the statewide numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

Since March 21, Baker has expanded shutdown orders for nonessential businesses and issued a stay-at-home advisory, suggesting filings for the current week could be just as large. There were 1,838 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 15 deaths from the virus in Massachusetts as of Wednesday.

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected on Friday to follow the Senate in passing a $2.2 trillion aid package. The bill includes provisions to expand unemployment benefits and would extend those benefits to freelance and gig economy workers.

Related Story: Small Business Owners Face Uncertain Future

Massachusetts pays about 50 percent of an unemployed person's average weekly wage, up to $823. Last month the U.S. Department of Labor said the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, with a balance of $1.74 billion, was one of the worst funded in the country. Before the coronavirus pandemic, state officials had expected the fund to pay out $1.27 billion this year with employers contributing $1.74 billion.

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Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).