Iowa sees highest level of new unemployment claims since January

Iowa saw an increase in weekly unemployment claims between March 28 and April 3, as new claims reach its highest level since early January, Iowa Workforce Development said Thursday morning.

Continuing claims fell from 39,657 to 38,642, but new claims rose from 4,602 to 6,770.

Barring a significant adjustment from the U.S. Department of Labor, it will be the highest weekly total of new claims since the week ending on Jan. 9.

About 49.1 percent of claims were related to coronavirus, an increase from 48 percent in the previous week.

Self-employed and independent contractors were the largest source of claims with 1,950, followed by manufacturing with 974, construction with 407, accommodation and food services with 404, and retail trade with 395.

The state issued $21.1 million in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, $12.7 million in standard unemployment benefits, $8.6 million in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and $3.4 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

These numbers are preliminary and are yet to be adjusted by the U.S. Department of Labor. They also only include people actively seeking work and therefore do not necessarily include every Iowan out of work.

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