New weekly unemployment claims in CO continue rise to 19,024

DENVER — An additional 19,024 people filed for traditional unemployment benefits in the week ending Dec. 5, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reported Thursday, an increase of 1,894 from the week prior.

The number of people in Colorado who applied for state-level Pandemic Unemployment Assistance in that week rose from 14,242 claims in the week ending Nov. 28 to 17,232 in the week ending Dec. 5. That program provides assistance for gig workers, the self-employed and others who wouldn’t normally qualify for regular benefits.

In a call with reporters Thursday morning, CDLE senior economist…