York, Lancaster, Chester soar to nearly 10K unemployment claims since COVID-19 hit.
Another 4,800 tri-county workers filed for unemployment in a week as the threat of COVID-19 continues.
South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce data shows more than 85,000 initial unemployment claims statewide for the week ending April 4. That figure is up 31% from already surging highs the two weeks prior and up more than 4,000% from weeks prior to social distancing measures brought on by the coronavirus.
The workforce agency processed 180,928 claims the past three weeks. The prior three weeks, there were 5,862 claims. South Carolinians received almost $18.5 million from March 15 to April 4, before Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or additional CARES Act funding arrives.
The initial unemployment claim data only reflects workers who both live and work in South Carolina. It doesn’t account for the many workers, particularly in large border counties like York and Lancaster, who live in-state but work outside of it.
For the week ending April 4, York County had 3,374 initial unemployment claims. The number is up from 2,328 the week prior and 1,404 in the first week of coronavirus-related unemployment surge. In all, it makes 7,106 people who live and work in York County who filed the past three weeks.
Lancaster County had 994 claims the most recent week. The figure is up from 639 claims from the week prior and 307 claims the first week. Lancaster County now is up to 1,940 claims in three weeks.
Chester County saw 453 claims the most recent week, also up from 279 claims and 153 claims the two weeks prior. Chester County has a combined 885 claims in three weeks.
Combined, the tri-county area has 9,931 claims in three weeks, almost twice what the entire state saw in the last three weeks before coronavirus closings, shut-downs, downsizing and other social distancing measures.
The state workforce department reports call center staff increased 400% in two weeks to respond to the rush of claims. An nationwide hub that validates social security numbers added server volume. The unemployment claim process now can occur entirely online.
For more, visit the COVID-19 resource hub or dew.sc.gov.
