New jobless claims jump 10% as business restrictions, consumer safety concerns spur layoffs

New claims for unemployment benefits in Washington surged last week as the state’s job market continued to recoil from rising COVID-19 cases and tougher public health restrictions on businesses. 

Washingtonians filed 24,587 new, or “initial,” claims for regular unemployment benefits last week, a 10.1% increase over the prior week, the state Employment Security Department (ESD) reported Thursday.