This article was originally published by Jacob Scholl in the Idaho Statesman.
Idaho’s initial unemployment claims saw an uptick from the previous week.
According to the latest statistics from the Idaho Department of Labor, new initial unemployment claims went up by 4% last week compared to the previous week. A total of 3,794 claims were filed last week, an increase of 150.
However, the Labor Department reports that continued claims, or those who requested a benefit payment, have decreased 13% to 16,414. It was the 16th week of decreased continued claims, according to a news release from the department. The four-week moving average for these types of claims dropped by 11% to 22,712.
In looking at unemployment claim by job type, manufacturing jobs accounted for 13% of all claims last week, the largest group. Close behind was health care and social assistance jobs, accounting for 12% of claims.
By age, the largest group filing claims were those between ages 25-34, which filed a quarter of all of last week’s claims. Next was those ages 35-44 with 22%, followed by people ages 45-54 at 17%. Claims made by young people under age 25 totaled 16%.
The Idaho Department of Labor paid out $14.1 million in claims last week, an increase from the $11.9 million paid out the week prior. Idahoans have received $793 million since the coronavirus pandemic began, with the bulk of that amount — around $532 million — coming from the federal government as part of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.
9 COVID-19 DEATHS REPORTED WEDNESDAY IN IDAHO
For the 12th day in a row, Idaho’s moving 14-day average for new coronavirus cases dropped. As of Wednesday, Idaho’s moving average is now 337.4 confirmed and probable cases per day, which is down from 455.4 recorded on Aug. 14.
The average continued to decline, as local health districts around Idaho reported 258 new confirmed cases. Though Idaho’s cases are in decline, Wednesday’s statistic was overshadowed a bit by nine new deaths.
Three deaths were reported in Ada County, which now has 116 deaths, and two more were reported out of Kootenai County, which has 29 coronavirus-related deaths as of Wednesday. Health officials also reported single deaths in Canyon (71 total), Shoshone (12) and Washington (4).
Idaho has reported 337 coronavirus-related deaths since the outbreak began.
Boundary County reported its first COVID-19 death Wednesday, as the Panhandle Health District said a man in his 70s died after he was hospitalized.
Ada reported the most new cases Wednesday with 76, bringing the county’s total to 10,164.
As of Wednesday, Idaho has 28,656 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Of those cases, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reports that 13,657 people have recovered from COVID-19. The department also added 81 new “probable” cases to its total, which is now 2,224.
A total of 244,447 coronavirus tests have been taken statewide, and around 11.7% of those test have returned positive.
Coronavirus cases have been reported in all of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 10,164, Adams 24, Bannock 587, Bear Lake 37, Benewah 101, Bingham 417, Blaine 581, Boise 46, Bonner 206, Bonneville 1,334, Boundary 43, Butte 11, Camas 2, Canyon 6,568, Caribou 35, Cassia 522, Clark 15, Clearwater 20, Custer 17, Elmore 226, Franklin 50, Fremont 91, Gem 184, Gooding 183, Idaho 39, Jefferson 279, Jerome 516, Kootenai 2,104, Latah 209, Lemhi 50, Lewis 8, Lincoln 57, Madison 181, Minidoka 504, Nez Perce 247, Oneida 17, Owyhee 266, Payette 527, Power 113, Shoshone 190, Teton 104, Twin Falls 1,460, Valley 76 and Washington 245.
Community spread has been found in the majority of Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Shoshone, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.
