Ohio Unemployment Claims Rise As US Hits 3-Month High

OHIO — Nearly 15,000 Ohioans filed for unemployment for the first time last week, as first-time claims hit a three-month high nationwide.

Approximately 286,000 Americans filed first-time unemployment claims during the week of Jan. 15, the Department of Labor reported Thursday. That's up 55,000 claims from the week before. Many pundits believe jobless claims can be viewed as a stand-in for layoffs, according to CBS News.

“We could see one more week of notably higher claims before they should top out,'' analysts with Contingent Macro Advisors predicted. “This bears close watching going forward.''

Like much of the nation, Ohio is in the grips of an omicron-fueled COVID-19 surge. As fears of the resurgent pandemic rise, many industries have struggled to find adequate staffing and meet customer demands, leading to layoffs and closures. Three Ohio companies — including a supply chain firm — announced facility closures and mass layoffs this month.

In Ohio, 14,982 first-time unemployment claims were filed last week, which was actually down slightly from the week before when 17,482 people made unemployment claims. However, continued unemployment claims rose last week, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.

Between Jan. 9 and Jan. 15, more than 60,000 Ohioans filed for continued unemployment benefits — up more than 3,000 claims from the week prior.

During the onset of the pandemic, government-ordered lockdowns and frightened consumers led to the shuttering of many businesses and mass layoffs. At one point, the nation's unemployment rate hit 14.7 percent.

Since that high, unemployment has steadily declined. The unemployment rate fell last month to a pandemic low 3.9 percent.

The Associate Press contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on the Cleveland Patch