California unemployment claims top 878,000 as coronavirus pushes US jobless to new high
New jobless claims in California surged again last week, reaching an estimated 878,727, an explosion in claims far greater than the national percentage increase, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday.
The rise in state claims was even greater, measured by percentage increase, than the national surge, the Labor Department reported. Nationally, more than 6.6 million people filed for the first time in the week that ended Saturday.
The seasonally adjusted figure, an historic high, was double the previous week’s total.
There appears to be little letup to the trend in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that 150,000 people filed for unemployment Monday, a new one-day record.
The percentage increase in last week’s new claims, which are not seasonally adjusted, was more than threefold. The new number was far higher than the previous week’s 186,333 and the 57,606 of two weeks ago.
The increases dramatically portray an economy in turmoil, if not freefall. President Trump last week signed a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package that frees up money for business loans and promises stimulus checks of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child that are expected to be direct deposited or mailed starting in mid-April.
Unemployed workers will get federal help. Unemployed residents can get a maximum of $1,050 — $450 from the state and another $600 from the federal government through July.
The surge in claims has overwhelmed the state’s Employment Development Department, which manages the unemployment program.
California Labor Secretary Julie Su last week issued a directive aimed at streaming the process and expediting claims. Claims processing is proceeding around the clock, and staff from other state agencies are being brought in to help.
“For those who are eligible, the EDD processes and issues payments within a few weeks of receiving a claim,” said department spokesman Barry White.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 6:30 AM with the headline "California unemployment claims top 878,000 as coronavirus pushes US jobless to new high."
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