July 9th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

First-time unemployment filings were up again last week.   In Maryland, 66,559 workers filed new unemployment claims, up from 56,126 the week before; 180 of those from Allegany County. 

Nationally, more than 1.3 million workers filed for jobless aid last week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The persistently elevated level of layoffs are occurring as a spike in coronavirus cases has forced six states to reverse their move to reopen businesses. Those six — Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan and Texas — make up one-third of the U.S. economy. Fifteen other states have suspended their reopenings. Collectively, the pullback has stalled a tentative recovery in the job market and is likely triggering additional layoffs.