Idaho unemployment claims climb for second week in a row

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho’s unemployment claims are rising for the second week in a row, according to numbers from the Idaho Department of Labor.

New first-time filings for unemployment totaled nearly 3,800 last week, 4% more than the previous week, Boise State Public Radio reported. The previous week saw double-digit increases.

Still, the state has seen significant declines in the number of unemployment claims since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and the four-week average for initial claims is still about 6% lower than the previous four-week period.

Nearly $800 million in unemployment benefits have been paid out for unemployment related to the coronavirus in Idaho, the bulk of the money coming from the federal government. Unemployment claims remain at slightly higher levels than those seen during the Great Recession.