PA Unemployment Explodes, 1M File For Benefits Amid Coronavirus

PENNSYLVANIA — Nearly 1 million in Pennsylvania have filed for unemployment benefits since March 15, as the coronavirus crisis has caused business closures and social restrictions.

The news comes amid an explosion of unemployment at the national level: 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment in the last week, data released Thursday shows. That's double the record high set just one week earlier.

The total number of claims in Pennsylvania since March 15 — when coronavirus mitigation efforts were implemented — is now at 980,267.

The latest data is evidence that the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis is worsening and having widespread impacts as more than two-thirds of the U.S. population — including the entire state of Pennsylvania — is under stay-at-home orders.

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The stay-at-home orders are aimed to mitigate the spread of the virus, which has now claimed 5,000 American lives, including at least 74 Pennsylvanians.

With non-essential workers now forced to stay home statewide, unemployment claims have ballooned in the state, data from the Pennsylvania Office of Unemployment Compensation shows. Restrictions during the public health crisis began on March 15, with the closure of all bars and restaurants in the hardest-hit counties surrounding Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

On March 16, the governor ordered a statewide closure of all non-essential businesses. A stay-at-home order began on a piecemeal basis on March 23 and has since been expanded to include the entire state.

According to data from the Pennsylvania Office of Unemployment Compensation:

• Between March 15 and March 21, 378,900 people filed claims.
• From March 22 to March 28, 405,879 more people filed claims.
• From March 29 to April 1, 195,488 more Pennsylvanians filed claims.

Last week, the United States reported 3.3 million new jobless claims nationwide, which was more than quadruple the previous record set in 1982, NBC reported.

Some economists now say many as 20 million will lose their jobs by the end of April, the Associated Press said.

In response to the economic fallout from the virus, the U.S. Senate last week approved the largest relief legislation in the country's history. The nearly $2 trillion package is aimed to help American workers and businesses in the fight against the coronavirus.

Those eligible to file a jobless claim include people whose employer has closed due to coronavirus, or whose hours have been cut due to the crisis. Additionally, if you have been told not to work because your employer feels you might get or spread coronavirus or if you have been told to quarantine, you can file a claim.

More information on how to file a claim and resources can be found here.