BOISE, Idaho — Idaho continues to see a decrease in the number of initial unemployment claims filed, but layoffs are continuing to run high due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The week ending on August 8 saw a 10% decrease from the previous week, totaling 3,250 initial claims.
The four week average for initial claims fell 11%.
Continued claims also decreased for the 14th consecutive week, with 20,263 claims filed. This marks a 4% decrease from the previous week.
An 8% decrease was cited in the four week average of continued claims.
The Idaho Dept. of Labor paid out $14.7 million in claims during the week ending Aug. 8, down from $38.1 million for the week ending Aug. 1.
The drop is due to the end of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, which offered unemployed Idahoans an extra $600 in addition to their unemployment benefit payment.
Regular state benefit payouts decreased from $5.7 million to $4.9 million for the week ending on August 8.
In total, Idahoans have received $767 million in unemployment benefits. Regular benefit payments total $177 million, while FPUC payments make up $524 million of the total paid out.
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