Coronavirus: Ohio jobless claims continue downward trend

COLUMBUS — Jobless claims filed by Ohioans continued their downward trend over the last week, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.

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Last week, over 431,000 total unemployment applications were filed, a decrease of nearly 5 percent from the previous week, JFS data shows. Total applications include both continued claims and new claims filed.

Nearly 26,000 new unemployment claims were filed, which represents a 7 percent decrease from the previous week.

The state department reports the number of initial jobless claims filed in the last 20 weeks is more than the combined total of those filed in the last four years.

In the last 20 weeks, over $5.8 billion in unemployment compensation has been paid to over 771,000 Ohioans.

Nationally, the U.S. Labor Department reported an additional 1.2 million Americans filed new unemployment applications, according to the Associated Press. The report today means a 20th straight week that at least 1 million Americans filed for unemployment assistance.

Cox Media Group