America on its knees: Unemployment soars to 3.3million after three MILLION new claims are filed in just one week – four times the previous record – as coronavirus cripples the economy
- The Department of Labor revealed Thursday that claims had increased by 3million in a week
- It is quadruple the previous record of 695,000 in October 1982
- The majority of claims were from service industries, specifically food and accommodation
- Congress signed a stimulus plan on Thursday that gives higher unemployment benefits then before
- They are also giving almost everyone who makes less than $95,000 a check for $1,200 to help them through the crisis
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US unemployment claims have surged to 3.28million – four times the previous record – as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Three million people have filed claims in the last week, according to a release from the Department of Labor on Thursday morning.
The report says service industries – specifically food and accommodation – are the hardest hit but that claims are also coming from the healthcare industry and from people who work in manufacturing, entertainment and arts.
‘During the week ending March 21, the increase in initial claims are due to the impacts of the COVID-19 virus. Nearly every state providing comments cited the COVID-19 virus impacts.
‘States continued to cite services industries broadly, particularly accommodation and food services.
‘Additional industries heavily cited for the increases included the health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment and recreation, transportation and warehousing, and manufacturing industries,’ the report read.
Last week, the number of initial claims was 282,000 – meaning 3,001,00 new ones have been filed since then.
The previous high was 695,000 in October 1982.
Millions have lost work as a result of the coronavirus pandemic
People wait in line at an unemployment center in Las Vegas on March 17
Millions of people have been put out of work by the virus which has now killed more than 1,000 people in America and 20,000 around the world since November.
Despite efforts by the government to alleviate the economic burden, businesses have already folded.
On Wednesday night, congress signed a stimulus plan which includes higher unemployment benefits for workers.
How much they will receive is dependent on what they were making when they were put out of work but the plan guarantees the new rates for four months.
Separately, almost all workers earning up to $95,000 are being given a check for $1,200.
President Trump has touted a stimulus package that will boost unemployment benefits and give Americans free cash