Initial unemployment claims in Delaware were nearly 9,300 in the week ending April 18, according to a closely watched report from the U.S. Department of Labor The number was down sharply from nearly 13,000 during the previous week.
Nationally, the unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 11.3 percent during the week ending April 11, an increase of 2.7 percentage points from the prior week.
The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming jobless benefits in state programs totaled 16,438,933, an increase of 31.9 percent from the preceding week.
Around the 20th of April, the state will issue a seasonally adjusted jobless figure for March. Economists have warned that the rate is likely to be the highest figures seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Delaware did not issue a figure for unadjusted unemployment, nor did it make a comment regarding its decline in jobless claims, an option that states are given in the federal report. The Labor Department did release the number of claims filed since late February that illustrates the avalanche of claims it has faced.
- Feb 23 – Feb 29 – Initial Claims 527
- March 1 – March 7 – Initial Claims 520
- March 8 – March 14 – Initial Claims 473
- March 15 – 21, – Initial Claims 10,720
- March 22 – 28, – Initial Claims 18,987
- March 29 – April 4, – Initial Claims 18,863
- April 5th – April 11th Initial Claims 13,258
- April 12th – April 18th Initial Claims 9,294
Neighboring Pennsylvania – which for a time led the nation in the number of jobless claims and also saw a sharp drop in new claims – reported fewer layoffs in the arts, entertainment, and recreation, other services, and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries.
The Commonwealth has earned praise for its efficient processing of claims. It has among the nation’s highest weekly unemployment compensation payments at $573 a week, far above the $400 a week maximum paid by Delaware. Legislators did raise the Delaware payment last year from the $330 a week figure that was among the lowest in the nation.
Delaware Labor Secretary Cerron Cade said this week the state has been hammered by an avalanche in jobless claims. He also noted that initial claims are no guarantee that the claim will translate into jobless benefits.
In some cases, applications have been rejected. One gray area has been managerial employees who have taken large pay cuts and despite paying into the system during their careers have been denied benefits.
Issues such as incorrect Social Security numbers from employers or the claimant have led to applicants being forced to deal with a live person, rather than moving the application through an online process.
Delaware and other states are also dealing with issues that include a new program for workers that are not part of the state’s unemployment insurance system for self-employed workers, such as shared ride service drivers, freelance workers, one-person businesses etc.) and the $600 a week payment that will be on top of the current benefit. A new system is being set up for gig workers.
