New Unemployment Claims Up In Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — More than 35,000 people filed new jobless claims last week, according to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.

That's up versus the state's average of approximately 30,000 jobless claims per week, according to Fox 8. More than 270,000 Ohioans remain unemployed. They are now joined by the 36,327 new jobless claims filed last week.

The spike in unemployment in Ohio comes as Congress continues to debate additional stimulus payments to Americans. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said his state needs additional COVID-19 relief and he urged bipartisan cooperation on any future legislation.

President Donald Trump and his administration are reportedly pushing GOP leaders to include $600 direct paymentsto cash-strapped Americans.

With time running out, lawmakers on Sunday said the new measure would provide roughly $300 in extra federal weekly unemployment benefits but not another round of $1,200 in direct payments to most Americans, leaving that issue for President-elect Joe Biden to wrestle over with a new Congress next year.