Ohioans filed 44,985 initial jobless claims last week, according to statistics ODJFS reported to the U.S. Department of Labor. The total number of initial jobless claims filed in Ohio over the last 55 weeks (3,197,646) was more than the combined total of those filed from 2013-2019.

Ohioans filed 283,201 continued jobless claims last week, which was 493,101 fewer than – or about 36% of – the peak last year. That includes both traditional unemployment claims and claims for extended benefits. In addition, 94,929 Ohioans received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) last week.

Over the last 55 weeks, ODJFS has distributed over $9.3 billion in unemployment compensation payments to over 984,000 Ohioans. In addition, ODJFS has issued over $10.1 billion in PUA payments to over 1 million Ohioans.

Recovery Efforts

While ODJFS continues to manage the state’s unemployment program, it also has multiple initiatives under way to help spur Ohio’s economic recovery. These include the Ohio To Work initiative to help displaced workers reskill and restart their careers, an $8.5 million National Dislocated Worker Grant that will help unemployed workers and employers impacted by COVID-19, and a $9.4 million grant to expand apprenticeship opportunities.

ODJFS works in partnership with local workforce development boards and local staff to provide employment and training services at 22 comprehensive and 66 affiliate OhioMeansJobs centers throughout the state.

Individuals can visit OhioMeansJobs.com or contact their local OhioMeansJobs center to find and apply for job openings, take skill and career interest assessments, create or improve their resumes, and practice interviewing.

Employers can contact their nearest OhioMeansJobs center to get help finding skilled candidates for jobs, screening resumes, learning about federally funded tax credits or training programs, and more.

To find contact information for your nearest OhioMeansJobs center, visit OhioMeansJobs.com and select “FIND A JOB CENTER” at the bottom of the page.

Additional Unemployment Information

ODJFS urges individuals to file their unemployment claims online, if possible, at unemployment.ohio.gov. All eligible Ohioans will receive their unemployment benefits retroactive to when they first applied.

Information about Unemployment Benefits: unemployment.ohio.gov

Updates on the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Programs: jfs.ohio.gov/caa

Filing for Unemployment Step-by-Step Guide: jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/pdf/QuickTipsAndStepByStepGuide.pdf

As a reminder, mass layoff notices are posted at jfs.ohio.gov/warn/current.stm.