Unemployment claims rising
October’s 9.1-percent rate in Klamath County highest
since 1990
The state paid more than $1.6 million in unemployment
benefits last month to 6,505 out-of-work Klamath
County residents.
“We have been busy,” said Randall Norris of Klamath County Work-Source Oregon.
Nationally, the number of people drawing unemployment benefits last week climbed to 4.09 million, a 26-year high. The level of applications remained high despite a drop in new applications last week, pointing to a deeply troubled employment climate, according to the report.
Statewide, about 60,000 Oregonians are receiving unemployment insurance benefits, according to information from WorkSource Oregon. Claims increased by 27 percent between October 2007 and September 2008.
About 1,200 Oregonians exhaust their initial 26-week claims each week, which provide $113 to $482 per week in benefits. An extended program to provide 13 additional weeks of benefits begins this month.
According to Workforce analyst Jan Swander, Klamath County’s 9.1 percent unemployment rate in October was the highest since 1990. November’s statistics are not yet available. The largest decline was in the leisure and hospitality fields, which lost 260 jobs. The year’s job loss so far totals 850 jobs.
In Lake County, the unemployment rate reached 7.4 percent in October. Its record for the month — 9 percent — was set in 1990.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Filing a claim
You can file for unemployment insurance over the phone by calling 1-800-663-7914, or online at www.employment.oregon. gov/EMPLOY/UI/index.shtml. This Web site also provides answers to frequently asked questions for employers and for those considering filing for unemployment.
“We have been busy,” said Randall Norris of Klamath County Work-Source Oregon.
Nationally, the number of people drawing unemployment benefits last week climbed to 4.09 million, a 26-year high. The level of applications remained high despite a drop in new applications last week, pointing to a deeply troubled employment climate, according to the report.
Statewide, about 60,000 Oregonians are receiving unemployment insurance benefits, according to information from WorkSource Oregon. Claims increased by 27 percent between October 2007 and September 2008.
About 1,200 Oregonians exhaust their initial 26-week claims each week, which provide $113 to $482 per week in benefits. An extended program to provide 13 additional weeks of benefits begins this month.
According to Workforce analyst Jan Swander, Klamath County’s 9.1 percent unemployment rate in October was the highest since 1990. November’s statistics are not yet available. The largest decline was in the leisure and hospitality fields, which lost 260 jobs. The year’s job loss so far totals 850 jobs.
In Lake County, the unemployment rate reached 7.4 percent in October. Its record for the month — 9 percent — was set in 1990.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Filing a claim
You can file for unemployment insurance over the phone by calling 1-800-663-7914, or online at www.employment.oregon. gov/EMPLOY/UI/index.shtml. This Web site also provides answers to frequently asked questions for employers and for those considering filing for unemployment.