Pandemic Unemployment Claims Jump In Ohio

OHIO — Initial pandemic unemployment assistance claims in Ohio doubled last week, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services announced.

Between Aug. 8 and Aug. 14, 11,113 initial pandemic unemployment claims were filed in the Buckeye State. Over the past eight weeks, the state averaged 4,983 new pandemic unemployment claims per week.

While pandemic unemployment claims were up, traditional unemployment claims continued to decline statewide, with nearly 900 fewer new claims last week than in previous weeks.

Last month, Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, lower than the national average of 5.9 percent. However, labor force participation was lower in Ohio than across the nation.