FLORIDA, USA — Almost one year into the pandemic, Florida’s unemployment system continues to be inundated with new unemployment claims.
Most recent data from the Department of Labor shows Florida had 57,824 first-time claims for the week ending Jan. 23, as opposed to the 39,226 first-time claims filed the week prior.
For the week ending Jan. 16, Florida had the largest increase in initial claims in the country.
These new numbers of first-time claims for the week are the highest since August.
As unemployment numbers remain high, it is imperative Florida’s unemployment system works efficiently to get money to claimants as many who have had issues receiving payments in the past are late on bills and fear of eviction looms.