New jobless claims in Washington jump 10% as limits, safety worries spur layoffs

SEATTLE — 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 percent increase over the prior week, the state Employment Security Department reported Thursday.

Economists said last week’s jump in new state claims reflects rising COVID-19 cases and efforts to slow that surge through the heightened restrictions ordered Nov. 15 by Gov. Jay Inslee. On Monday, Inslee extended those restrictions by three weeks.

“The increase in claims this week follows the trend we’ve been observing in recent weeks,” said Anneliese Vance-Sherman, an ESD regional economist who covers the Seattle area. “This aligns with increased numbers of documented COVID-19 cases in Washington state, the third week of increased restrictions, and the seasonal rhythm of job loss that comes with shorter, colder days.”

Inslee’s Nov. 15 order was followed by a surge in new jobless claims, particularly in areas such as food service, that were affected by the restrictions. Just three days after the restrictions were announced, for example, Elmer’s Restaurants in Vancouver and Tacoma laid off 94 workers, according to a notice filed with the ESD.

Sectors that saw the largest increases in new jobless claims last week included the construction industry, which typically sees seasonal layoffs this time of year. But the state also saw a rise in claims filed by workers in hospitals, child day care services, and services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

The number of Washingtonians collecting unemployment benefits last week rose 6.4 percent to 298,296, the ESD reported.