SEATTLE — Heather Newton was laid off from three restaurant jobs when the coronavirus pandemic began. Now even finally with some money from unemployment – she’s struggling to get by.
She is not alone. According to a new study by financial website WalletHub, Seattle is the hardest hit city for unemployment nationwide, with the highest spike since coronavirus hit.
And Washington as a whole has also been hard hit. Since March 7, when the state says coronavirus job losses began – 787,533 people statewide have filed for unemployment insurance.
That’s one in five workers.
The Employment Security Department says the hardest hit industries are healthcare, social assistance workers, retail trade, and accommodation and food service.
Those workers include Karen Womack who was laid off from the warehouse stocking food service at T-Mobile Park.
"If the pandemic continues to go on. I don’t know what any of us are going to do,” Womack said.
The Employment Security Department said that were 1.4 million claims for unemployment benefits just last week. An individual can file more than one claim, so the number of claims do not reflect individuals.
While the numbers are staggering, Newton told KING 5 to remember that those are real people.
“[T]hat’s thousands of your friends. Because I think when the numbers get that high its easy to just dehumanize it," Newton said.
Initial claims for regular benefits increased by 67% and total initial claims increased by 453%.
Claims for the week of April 19-25 include the following:
- Regular unemployment insurance initial claims: 137,605
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance initial claims: 190,948
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation initial claims: 168,165
- Continued/ongoing weekly claims: 959,190
Last week was the first week that pandemic claims could be filed by self-employed workers and independent contractors, and the first week that initial claims for extended benefits could be filed.
The Employment Security Department paid more than $988 million to a total of 504,407 claims.
Since the week ending March 7, ESD has paid out nearly $1.5 billion in benefits.
“The tsunami of claims we have been preparing for is reflected in this week’s data, as it shows the hundreds of thousands of workers applying for expanded benefits under the federal CARES Act since we updated our system to accept those applications on April 18,” said Employment Security Commissioner Suzi LeVine. “This is, by far, the largest week of unemployment benefits delivered in our state's history. We are humbled and grateful to be able to get those benefits to so many Washingtonians during this crisis, but our work is far from over. We know that people are struggling all across the state, and many are in desperate situations.
"We have received more initial claims in the past seven weeks than the previous three and a half years combined – it is a truly staggering amount of people affected by this crisis. I am so sorry that we haven’t been able to provide everyone with relief when they need it and we are working night and day to make sure that we do. We want to remind people; the money won’t run out and you won’t miss out. You will be paid all the benefits for which you are eligible.”