COLUMBUS, Ind. — Initial jobless claims in Bartholomew County remained relatively stable last week, ticking up slightly as the number of the overall number of laid-off Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell in what analysts say is evidence that the pandemic keeps forcing many businesses to slash jobs.
A total of 115 initial unemployment claims were filed in Bartholomew County the week ending Aug. 29, up from 108 the week before but significantly lower than 1,845 the week ending April 11, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Additionally, a total of 1,394 Bartholomew County workers were drawing jobless benefits the week ending Aug. 22, down from a revised figure of 1,511 the week prior, but still well below the 5,039 workers receiving benefits the week ending May 2.
In Indiana, 10,783 people sought jobless aid the week ending Aug. 29, up from a revised 10,597 the previous week.
The latest local figures came as the Labor Department reported that number of laid-off Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a still-elevated 881,000 last week, evidence that the viral pandemic keeps forcing many businesses to slash jobs, according to The Associated Press.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
