DOVER, Del. (AP) - The number of initial unemployment claims filed by Delawareans fell again last week to its lowest level since before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
The Delaware Department of Labor reported Thursday that 3,052 initial unemployment claims were filed for the week ending May 30. That’s six times less than the number of claims filed in both the last week of March and the first week of April.
Officials said more than 103,500 initial jobless claims have been filed since March 15, and more than $327 million in unemployment benefits paid. That total includes $209 million in federal funds and $117.5 million from Delaware’s unemployment insurance trust fund.
By comparison, the fund paid out a total of $59 million in 2019.
Jobless claims soared after Democratic Gov. John Carney imposed wide-ranging restrictions and closures on businesses in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.
Carney in recent weeks has loosened some of restrictions on economic activity under pressure from the business, tourism and agricultural communities but has kept others in place. The official first phase of a gradual reopening of the state’s economy began Monday.
State officials have said they expect that they will use up to $400 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Fund payments to help cover the cost of unemployment claims.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.