New unemployment claims increase in Iowa as economic toll of pandemic continues

New unemployment claims rose in Iowa, from 4,652 to 6,601, between Sept. 13 and Sept. 19 as the pandemic continues to take an economic toll on the state.

Continuing claims decreased, though, from 65,422 to 63,291.

Manufacturing was the largest source of unemployment claims, at 1,483, followed by construction at 1,043, self-employed and independent contractors with 970, health care and social assistance at 440, and accommodation and food services at 416.

Claims in the construction industry more than doubled in September. As of the week of Sept. 5, it was the source of 385 claims.

Manufacturing claims were decreasing earlier in the month, but claims increased by about 600 last week.

The claims resulted in $17.8 million in standard unemployment benefits, $4.3 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, $5.7 million in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and $1.1 million in State Extended Benefits.

The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefits expired at the end of July, but Iowans received almost $4 million in retroactive payments last week.

These numbers only show how many people are actively seeking work and therefore do not give a full picture of how many people are out of work during the pandemic.

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