Initial unemployment claims for week ending March 27, 2021, compared to previous week.
The number of initial unemployment claims filed during the week ending March 27 were 75% lower than they were this week a year ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact was fully reflected in Virginia’s unemployment statistics. However, the number of new filers increased from the previous week.
The Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday that 28,244 people filed initial claims last week, an increase of 10,684 from the previous week. Continued claims totaled 57,072, a 2.0% decrease from the previous week but 15,245 higher than continued claims a year ago. People receiving unemployment benefits through the VEC must file weekly unemployment claims in order to continue receiving benefits.
More than half of the claimants who filed for benefits last week (and the prior four weeks) reported being in the accommodation/food service, administrative and waste services, retail trade and health care and social assistance industries, according to the VEC.
