COVID-19 March 18, 2021 6:52:55 pm

New weekly unemployment claims in state drop to 11,633

By BizWest Staff

DENVER — An additional 11,633 people filed for traditional unemployment benefits in the week ending March 13, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said Thursday, a drop of 311 from the week before.

A total of 1,473 people filed for the reinstated Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program during the week, marking an additional 19 applicants. Figures for that specific aid over the past several weeks are not comparable to prior numbers due to changes in guidance from the U.S. Labor Department that tells states to count only new claims or those who were rehired and laid off or furloughed again during the period when the federal program was not paying out.

A total of 207,686 claims were filed for some type of state or federally funded unemployment programs in the week of March 6, amounting to an increase of 3,113.

Nationwide, the U.S. Labor Department said 770,000 Americans filed for unemployment aid, an increase of 45,000 from the week prior’s revised figure.