Idaho rate of unemployment filing declines

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK)-Unemployed Idahoans filed 3,631 initial claims for new unemployment benefits in the past week, decreasing 8% from the previous week.

Idahoans have filed an average 3,989 claims per week since the COVID-19 health emergency was proclaimed.

The continuing number of people requesting a benefit payment dropped by 22% from the previous week to 36,764.  

Of those filing claims, 15% were in health care and social assistance jobs.  Retail, manufacturing, and accommodations represented 11% each.  

According to the Department, 26% of the claims filed were from workers aged 25 to 34.  People aged 35 to 44 accounted for 19% of the claims, while young people under 25 and people aged 45 to 54 each represented 17% of the total.

Altogether, there have been 152,858 initial claims for unemployment benefits during the 13 weeks since the state of emergency.  71% of those claims were filed in the first five weeks.

The state paid out a record $86 million in claims during the week of June 7-13.  As of June 13, total benefit payments reached $469.2 million.