OLYMPIA, Wash. — The federal government yesterday (Thursday) reported a staggering number of new unemployment claims and Governor Jay Inslee says claims in Washington have also skyrocketed.
He says the state has seen an 843 percent increase in new unemployment claims last week, a rate five times faster than at any time during the Great Recession.
Inslee told a news conference that the Employment Security Department is adding hundreds of workers to help process the claims.
And he applauds congress for acting on an economic stimulus package that includes expanded unemployment benefits that are also available to part time and gig workers.
Unemployment applications can be made online.