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Tag: unemployment

Va. initial jobless claims rise slightly

Virginia’s new unemployment claims rose slightly last week, while continued jobless claims declined, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday.

For the filing week ending June 12, 7,849 people filed initial claims, an increase of 639 from the previous week. Continued claims totaled 44,793 last week, down 5,468 claims from the previous week.

This time a year ago, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 27,186 people filed new unemployment claims, 71.1% more than last week, while 386,893 people filed continued claims, 88% more than last week. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.

More than half of the claimants who filed for benefits last week (and the prior four weeks) reported being in these industries: accommodations/food service; administrative and waste services; retail trade; and health care and social assistance.

The regions of the state that have been most impacted continue to be Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. 

Nationwide, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims last week was 412,000, an increase of 37,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. There were 1,457,102 initial claims during the same week last year.

New, continued jobless claims maintain decline in Va.

Virginia’s unemployment claims, both initial and continued, fell again last week, continuing the positive trend of the last few weeks, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday.

For the filing week ending June 5, 7,210 people filed new unemployment claims, a decrease of 880 claims since the previous week. Continued claims totaled 50,261 last week, a decrease of 1,967 claims filed the previous week.

“For the sixth consecutive week, initial claims for unemployment insurance in the commonwealth are down from the previous week,” Old Dominion University Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy research associate Dominique Johnson said in a statement. “We see a similar trend in the number of Virginians receiving unemployment benefits, which has declined approximately 16.8% over the last four weeks. With the relaxation of mask mandates and social distancing requirements in Virginia, we expect the recovery to continue to accelerate in the coming months.”

This time a year ago, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 29,231 people filed new unemployment claims, 75.3% more than last week, while 396,056 people filed continued claims, 87% more than last week. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.

More than half of the claimants who filed for benefits last week (and the prior four weeks) reported being in these industries: accommodations/food service; administrative and waste services; retail trade; and health care and social assistance.

The regions of the state that have been most impacted continue to be Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. 

“Continued vaccinations and the relaxation of social distancing requirements have spurred hiring and lowered initial unemployment claims nationally,” Robert McNab, director of the Dragas Center, said in a statement. “Compared to the first week of January 2021, initial unemployment claims have fallen 59% while continued claims have declined by 42%.

“While regular state continued claims have steadily decreased, continued claims through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs have not fallen as quickly. With states now moving to end participation in the PUA and PEUC programs as well as the additional $300 a week in unemployment compensation, continued claims are likely to fall swiftly in the coming weeks. We continue to project robust growth through 2021, although we are increasingly concerned about inflationary expectations undermining a sustained recovery.”

Nationwide, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims last week was 376,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and the lowest number of initial claims since March 14, 2020, the week before the COVID pandemic prompted mass layoffs. There were 1,556,548 initial claims during the same week last year.

Va. unemployment claims continue to decline

Virginia’s number of new and continued unemployment claims dropped again last week, with 8,090 initial claims filed during the week ending May 29, a decrease of 1,753 claims from the previous week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday.

Continued claims totaled 52,228 last week, down 1,935 claims from the previous week. This time a year ago, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 31,379 people filed new unemployment claims, 74% more than last week, while 398,411 people filed continued claims, 87% more than last week. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.

On Tuesday, the VEC started requiring unemployment benefit recipients to apply for at least two jobs a week and report details of job search activity, a requirement that was waived during the height of the pandemic.

More than half of the claimants who filed for benefits last week (and the prior four weeks) reported being in the accommodation/food service, administrative and waste services, retail trade and health care and social assistance industries, according to the VEC.

The regions of the state that have been most impacted continue to be Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. 

Below are the top 10 localities, listed by number of initial unemployment claims, for the week ending May 29:

  • Norfolk, 381
  • Fairfax County, 344
  • Richmond, 343
  • Virginia Beach, 257
  • Prince William County, 222
  • Newport News, 203
  • Portsmouth, 181
  • Alexandria, 168
  • Chesapeake, 164
  • Chesterfield County, 156

Nationwide, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims last week was 385,000, a decrease of 320,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the lowest number of initial claims since March 14, 2020, the week before the COVID pandemic prompted mass layoffs. There were 1,611,720 initial claims during the same week last year.

Va. new jobless claims dip below 10,000

Virginia saw another decrease in initial unemployment claims last week, with 9,843 new claims in the filing week ending May 22, down 799 from the previous week, according to the Virginia Employment Commission’s Thursday report.

Continued claims decreased by 6,250 last week, with 54,163 filed by May 22. This time a year ago, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 39,242 people filed new unemployment claims, 74% more than last week, while 402,926 people filed continued claims, 87% more than last week. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.

Starting June 1, the VEC will start requiring unemployment benefit recipients to apply for at least two jobs a week and report details of job search activity, a requirement that was waived during the height of the pandemic.

Also, in a settlement of a federal class action lawsuit against the VEC this week, Judge Henry Hudson signed orders requiring the agency to clear 95% of its 92,000-claim backlog by Sept. 6. The state has ranked as the slowest in the nation in processing difficult-to-resolve claims, according to the lawsuit filed on behalf of five Virginia women.

Gov. Ralph Northam previously ordered the VEC to invest $20 million in initiatives to speed up processing of claims, particularly those that require adjudication. The governor’s executive directive requires the commission to hire 300 claims processors, modernize its insurance system by Oct. 1 and make other immediate technology upgrades.

More than half of the claimants who filed for benefits last week (and the prior four weeks) reported being in the accommodation/food service, administrative and waste services, retail trade and health care and social assistance industries, according to the VEC.

The regions of the state that have been most impacted continue to be Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. 

Below are the top 10 localities, listed by number of initial unemployment claims, for the week ending May 22:

  • Norfolk, 507
  • Fairfax County, 418
  • Richmond, 400
  • Virginia Beach, 339
  • Prince William County, 304
  • Portsmouth, 242
  • Chesapeake, 234
  • Newport News, 229
  • Alexandria, 228
  • Chesterfield County, 198

Nationwide, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims last week was 406,000, a decrease of 38,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the lowest number of initial claims since March 14, 2020, the week before the COVID pandemic prompted mass layoffs. There were 1,902,792 initial claims during the same week last year.

Va. April unemployment rate at 4.7%, drops nearly half point

Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at 4.7% in April, dropping 0.4 percentage points below March’s jobless rate.

April’s statewide unemployment rate was 5.9 percentage points below April 2020’s rate of 10.6%, the first full month of pandemic-related job losses. Virginia contends to trend lower than the nation, however. The U.S. unemployment rate for April was 6.1%.

“Virginia’s unemployment rate has decreased every month since last June and is edging closer to pre-pandemic record lows,” Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement. “More people are working, businesses are hiring and our economy is getting even stronger as more and more Virginians receive their COVID-19 vaccines. Our administration remains focused on ensuring there is opportunity for every Virginia resident in every part of our commonwealth so we can all move forward.”

The labor force decreased by 12,422 to 4.22 million in April, with the number of unemployed Virginians decreasing by 17,097, according to data released Friday by the Virginia Employment Commission. The number of employed Virginians increased by 4,675 to 4.02 million.

The largest over-the-year job gains occurred in the leisure and hospitality sector, which gained 114,000 jobs or 52%, and the next largest gain was in trade and transportation, which went up by 67,300 jobs, or 11%. Education and health services saw a gain of 38,200 jobs, or a 7% increase. Government experienced the state’s largest year-over-year decrease in jobs, falling by 10,100 jobs in local governments and 3,400 state jobs. The federal government, however, added 2,400 jobs over the past year.

 

Va. sees second week of slightly lower initial jobless claims

Virginia saw another week of little change in initial unemployment claims, with 10,642 new claims filed during the week ending May 15, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. This was a decrease of 628 claimants from the previous week.

Continued claims last week rose by 2,569 from the previous week, reaching 60,413 total claims. This time a year ago, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 44,699 people filed new unemployment claims, 76% more than last week, while 403,557 people filed continued claims, 85% more than last week. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.

On Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam ordered the VEC to invest $20 million in initiatives to speed up processing of claims, particularly those that require adjudication. The governor’s executive directive requires the commission to hire 300 claims processors, modernize its insurance system by Oct. 1 and make other immediate technology upgrades. The state has ranked as the slowest in the nation in processing difficult-to-resolve claims, according to a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of five Virginia women. Last week, a federal judge disclosed that the state and the plaintiffs have initiated settlement talks.

More than half of the claimants who filed for benefits last week (and the prior four weeks) reported being in the accommodation/food service, administrative and waste services, retail trade and health care and social assistance industries, according to the VEC.

The regions of the state that have been most impacted continue to be Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. 

Below are the top 10 localities, listed by number of initial unemployment claims, for the week ending May 15:

  • Fairfax County, 549
  • Norfolk, 465
  • Richmond, 439
  • Prince William County, 381
  • Virginia Beach, 359
  • Newport News, 279
  • Chesapeake, 248
  • Alexandria, 239
  • Portsmouth, 237
  • Hampton, 223

Nationwide, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims last week was 444,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. There were 2,163,595 initial claims during the same week last year.

Northam orders VEC to hire 300 more claim processors

Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday ordered the Virginia Employment Commission to invest $20 million in upgrading its claims system and hire 300 more staffers to process complicated unemployment insurance claims, which have dogged the agency during the COVID-19 pandemic and led to a civil lawsuit.

In an executive directive signed Tuesday, Northam directed the agency to complete a full modernization of its insurance system by Oct. 1 and make immediate technology upgrades.

His office said in a news release that the state ranks sixth in the nation for the timely payment of benefits to eligible applicants, but a class action lawsuit filed in April alleged that Virginia is the slowest state in the nation when processing difficult-to-resolve claims. The pro bono lawsuit on behalf of five Virginia women was filed by the Legal Aid Justice Center, Legal Aid Works and the Virginia Poverty Law Center,  along with Consumer Litigation Associates PC and Kelly Guzzo PLC.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson said in an order that the VEC and the plaintiffs had initiated settlement talks. The VEC has been under significant pressure during the pandemic and record-breaking unemployment claims since last March, with more than 1.6 million people filing initial jobless claims over the past 15 months. Along with more people filing for unemployment insurance, the VEC received thousands of phone calls and emails from people seeking answers and unemployment checks from both the state and the federal government.
A study on the VEC by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission is set for November, but with state lawmakers asking for information sooner, the watchdog agency will give updates on the VEC’s status through the summer.
According to Tracey Smith, JLARC’s associate director, the commission had processed only 2.4% of claims that required additional review within 21 days, the benchmark that lands Virginia at the bottom of the nation in adjudicating claims, the U.S. Department of Labor reported.
“Virginia is a national leader in getting unemployment benefits to eligible individuals, but it’s clear that complex cases must be resolved more quickly,” Northam said in a statement. “That’s why I’m directing the Virginia Employment Commission to invest $20 million to significantly speed up its adjudication process and immediately implement long overdue technology upgrades. This action will address many of the issues that have caused delays and ensure that we continue to deliver relief to Virginians who need it.”
According to Northam’s directive, the VEC must increase the number of adjudicated claims being process per week from 5,600 to 10,000 by June 30 and to 20,000 by July 31. To accomplish this goal, the agency will finalize a $5 million contract for more than 300 officers. The VEC will also invest in its customer contact center, which has grown during the pandemic to handle calls from claimants. The 41-year-old benefits system will be updated with a $5 million contract to expedite work, with Oct. 1 as its targeted finish date.
Finally, Northam’s order says, the state will work with the Virginia congressional delegation to resolve a federal funding disparity, in which the state receives among the lowest amounts of federal unemployment funding in the nation, requiring Virginia businesses to pay more in federal unemployment taxes.

Va. sees small decrease in new jobless claims

The fluctuating numbers of initial unemployment claims in Virginia took a break last week, with little change from the previous week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending May 8, 11,270 people submitted new jobless claims, a decrease of 961 claimants from the previous week, or 7.8%.

In April, the number of new claims bounced up and down week after week, including a 171.6% week-over-week increase reported for the April 19-24 filing week.

A year ago, 52,139 Virginians filed initial claims, 78.3% higher than last week.

Continued claims remained fairly steady, with 57,844 filed last week, an increase of 2,649 from the previous week. A year ago, however, 392,673 people filed continued claims, 85.2% higher than last week. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.

Last week’s initial claims represent “a significant improvement from the roughly 52,000 initial claims filed in same week in 2020,” Dominique Johnson, research associate at Old Dominion University’s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy, said in a statement. “The number of Virginians receiving some form of unemployment benefits increased from the previous week. The general trend, however, shows a continued steady decline from the peak in April 2020. Overall, Virginia’s labor market shows continued improvement, and the expected uptick in economic activity over the coming months should only accelerate the recovery.”

More than half of the claimants who filed for benefits last week (and the prior four weeks) reported being in the accommodation/food service, administrative and waste services, retail trade and health care and social assistance industries, according to the VEC.

The regions of the state that have been most impacted continue to be Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. 

Below are the top 10 localities, listed by number of initial unemployment claims, for the week ending May 8:

  • Fairfax County, 631
  • Norfolk, 479
  • Richmond, 466
  • Virginia Beach, 463
  • Prince William County, 452
  • Chesapeake, 294
  • Newport News, 286
  • Alexandria, 277
  • Chesterfield County, 274
  • Loudoun County, 253

Nationwide, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims last week was 473,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. There were 2,326,632 initial claims during the same week last year.

Va. sees 67% drop in weekly jobless claims

The state’s number of initial unemployment claims continues to fluctuate wildly, with only 12,231 Virginians submitting new jobless claims for the week ending May 1, a drop of 25,125 claims from the previous week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday.

For the April 26-May 1 filing week, the state saw a 67.2% decline in new claims, after a 171.6% week-over-week increase reported for the April 19-24 filing week. A year ago, 59,631 Virginians filed initial claims, 79.4% higher than last week.

Continued claims remained much steadier, with 55,195 filed last week, an increase of 914 from the previous week. A year ago, however, 376,689 people filed continued claims, 85.3% higher than last week. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.

More than half of the claimants who filed for benefits last week (and the prior four weeks) reported being in the accommodation/food service, administrative and waste services, retail trade and health care and social assistance industries, according to the VEC.

The regions of the state that have been most impacted continue to be Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. 

Meanwhile, the VEC received a brief extension this week to respond to a federal class-action lawsuit filed in February by Virginians complaining of long delays in processing unemployment claims. Although the agency asked for three weeks of extra time, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson granted only four days. Also, some state legislators have said they wish to see a study on VEC’s delays by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission expedited, saying the matter deserves more urgency than a November report.

Below are the top 10 localities, listed by number of initial unemployment claims, for the week ending May 1:

  • Fairfax County, 731
  • Prince William County, 532
  • Norfolk, 514
  • Richmond, 508
  • Virginia Beach, 491
  • Newport News, 316
  • Alexandria, 310
  • Loudoun County, 302
  • Chesapeake, 295
  • Henrico County, 275

Nationwide, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims last week was 498,000, a decrease of 92,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. There were 2,793,245 initial claims during the same week last year.

Va. new jobless claims up 171%

For the April 19-24 filing week, 37,356 Virginians submitted initial unemployment claims, a 171.6% increase from the previous week, but a 48.4% decrease from this time a year ago, when jobless claims were near a peak during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Virginia Employment Commission reports that last week’s number of initial claims has reverted to earlier months’ trend after seeing lower volumes in previous weeks.

Last week’s new claims rose by 23,605 compared with those from the week ending April 17, when 13,751 people filed, according to the VEC’s Thursday report. This week a year ago, 72,488 people filed initial claims in Virginia.

The number of continued claims filed last week — 54,281 — dropped by 992 from the previous week. This week a year ago, 341,295 continued claims were filed, 84% higher than last week. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.

More than half of the claimants who filed for benefits last week (and the prior four weeks) reported being in the accommodation/food service, administrative and waste services, retail trade and health care and social assistance industries, according to the VEC.

The regions of the state that have been most impacted continue to be Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads. 

Below are the top 10 localities, listed by number of initial unemployment claims, for the week ending April 24:

  • Richmond, 2,051
  • Prince William County, 1,845
  • Norfolk, 1,774
  • Fairfax County, 1,672
  • Virginia Beach, 1,538
  • Alexandria, 1,498
  • Portsmouth, 1,400
  • Fredericksburg, 989
  • Roanoke, 913
  • Newport News, 749

Nationwide, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims last week was 553,000, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. There were 3,468,261 initial claims during the same week last year.