First-Time Jobless Claims In MD Drop To Lowest Level In Months

MARYLAND — First-time unemployment claims in Maryland dropped to their lowest level since September, the Maryland Department of Labor announced Thursday.

Data released by state officials show 11,013 workers applied for jobless relief in the week ending Jan. 2. That represents a 39 percent decrease from the 18,100 claims that were filed the prior week. The last time Maryland's weekly total was this low was for the week ending Sept. 19, with 9,185 workers filing for unemployment benefits.

The latest addition pushes the total number of filings since early March to more than 1.44 million.

While the number of initial filings has dropped substantially from its peak in May, it is still high by historical standards.

Prior to the pandemic, jobless claims in Maryland hovered between 2,000 and 6,500 per week. During the public health crisis, however, these numbers have fluctuated between 2,090 and 109,263. The all-time pandemic high was for the week ending May 2.

Of the 11,013 workers who applied last week, 160 filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) — a federal program for gig workers, contractors, and other self-employed people who otherwise are ineligible for regular jobless benefits.

The jurisdiction with the most PUA claims last week was Baltimore County, with 31, according to state data.

Claims filed for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) — a federal program that provides an additional 13 weeks of pay to workers who've exhausted their other benefits — was 215.

The most PEUC claims were filed in Baltimore County, with 46.