Initial unemployment claims in New Jersey by week and cumulative. (Courtesy of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development) TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The number of people applying for jobless benefits in New Jersey last week fell to just over 20,000, a 21% drop compared with the prior week, the state Labor Department said Thursday.
The state's jobless claims have soared to more than 1.5 million, primarily because of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials have said.
Last week also marked a sharp drop in how much the state paid out in benefits, falling to $316 million. The drop reflects the July 25 expiration of a federal $600 weekly benefit for all unemployed residents.