First-Time Unemployment Claims Rise In MD For Fifth Week In A Row

MARYLAND — New applications for Maryland jobless benefits rose to 50,418 last week, marking the fifth-straight week in which the state has seen an uptick in first-time filings.

The latest figure — which covers the week ending Jan. 30 — represents a 13.7 percent increase from the 44,333 jobless claims that were filed the prior week. It also pushes the total number of filings to more than 1.61 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 50,418 workers who applied last week, 14,887 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 Prince George's County, with 2,008, 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 2,132.

The most PEUC claims were filed in Baltimore County, with 325.

Nationally, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell but remained at a historically high 779,000, a sign that layoffs keep coming. Last week's claims dropped by 33,000 nationwide, from a revised 812,000 the week before, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday.

Before the virus hit the United States last March, weekly applications for jobless aid had never topped 700,000.