Layoffs in the professional, scientific, technical and administrative support services contributed to an increase in new jobless claims filed in the state last week, according to the Washington state Employment Security Department.
Laid-off workers in the state filed 11,863 new jobless claims the week ending April 3, a 3.6% increase compared with the previous week, the department reported Thursday.
Continued claims in all unemployment categories dropped 0.8%, with 426,803 applications filed in the week ending April 3.
The ESD paid more than $250 million in benefits last week. It has paid $16.6 billion in benefits since the pandemic's onset in the state last year.
The construction sector filed the greatest number of total claims last week, with 1,796, and followed by retail trade, which filed 1,062.
Health care and social assistance filed 962 claims, while accommodation and food services filed 871. Professional, scientific and technical services filed 387 claims, an increase of 87 new applications compared with the week ending March 27.
