US Weekly Jobless Claims
Jump to 6.6 Million The U.S. Labor Department reported 6.6 million people filed for unemployment insurance in the past week. A reported 10 million people
have filed over the past two weeks. Prior to economic shutdowns
due to the coronavirus, the highest number
of claims in a week was 695,000 in 1982. The complete shutdown of industries from
social distancing policies caused joblessness unlike
anything the nation has previously seen. The recently approved $2 trillion stimulus package will allow workers to stay on unemployment longer and expand the scope of those who can receive benefits. The goal of the stimulus is to help mitigate
some of the devastating economic effects from
the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.