Author: James McAllister
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U.S. weekly unemployment insurance claims fall to 229,000
New applications for U.S. unemployment insurance benefits fell 2,000 for the week ending June 18 to a seasonally adjusted 229,000. The previous week’s figure was revised up from 229,000 to 231,000. The four-week moving average as of June 18 rose to 223,500 from a revised 219,000 as of the week ending June 11. The number…
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Iowa governor signs law to reduce duration of unemployment insurance benefits
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed HF 2355 on June 16, reducing the maximum length of unemployment insurance payments from 26 weeks to 16 weeks starting July 3. The law also re-defines suitable work and will require claimants to accept jobs that pay less than their previous jobs after their first week of benefits. Workers…
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Oregon Employment Department announces increased unemployment insurance benefit minimums and maximums
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) announced the minimum and maximum unemployment insurance benefit amounts would increase about 7% for regular claims filed on or after July 3, 2022. The minimum amount will increase from $171 to $183 per week, and the maximum amount will increase from $733 to $783 per week. Individuals who file for…
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U.S. weekly unemployment insurance claims fall to 200,000
New applications for U.S. unemployment insurance benefits rose 27,000 for the week ending June 4 to a seasonally adjusted 229,000. The previous week’s figure was revised up from 200,000 to 202,000. The four-week moving average as of June 4 rose to 215,000 from a revised 207,000 as of the week ending May 21. The number…
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Colorado governor signs law to direct federal funds to repay unemployment insurance debt
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) on May 25 signed SB22-234, which will direct $600 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help pay back the state’s $1 billion unemployment insurance trust fund debt to the federal government. The law will also forgive certain non-fraud overpayments, meaning some workers who received more unemployment…
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Kansas governor announces start of unemployment insurance modernization effort
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) announced June 2 that the Kansas Department of Labor (KDL) has started what it describes as its effort to modernize the state’s unemployment insurance system. Kelly said the project will take 26 months and cost roughly $48 million. The KDL previously announced April 5 that the state chose to contract…
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U.S. weekly unemployment insurance claims fall to 200,000
New applications for U.S. unemployment insurance benefits fell 11,000 for the week ending May 28 to a seasonally adjusted 200,000. The previous week’s figure was revised up from 210,000 to 211,000. The four-week moving average as of May 28 fell to 206,500 from a revised 207,000 as of the week ending May 21. The number…
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U.S. weekly unemployment insurance claims rise to 218,000
New applications for U.S. unemployment insurance benefits rose 21,000 for the week ending May 14 to a seasonally adjusted 218,000. The previous week’s figure was revised down from 203,000 to 197,000. The four-week moving average as of May 14 rose to 199,500 from a revised 191,250 as of the week ending May 7. The number…
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Oklahoma governor signs unemployment insurance indexing bill
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed House Bill 1933 into law on May 20, which will cut the maximum length of unemployment insurance benefits from 26 weeks to 16 weeks starting Jan. 1, 2023. The law will index unemployment insurance benefits starting Jan. 1, 2025, tying the length of benefits to the state’s unemployment rate.…
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New Jersey committee approves bill that includes unemployment insurance tax credits for small businesses
The New Jersey Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee on May 19 approved A-3683, a bill that would give tax credits to some small businesses with an aim to offset increasing unemployment insurance taxes following the coronavirus pandemic. The New Jersey Business and Industry Association estimates businesses in the state face about $250 million in…