Unemployment claims in Massachusetts for the week ending March 21 rose by over 140,000, according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
The week ending March 14 had just 7,384 total claims across the state. The week ending March 21 saw 147,992 total claims, an increase of 1,904%
Governor Charlie Baker declared a State of Emergency due to the novel coronavirus pandemic on Sunday, March 15, the first day of the weekly unemployment measurement.
SEE BELOW: Full Massachusetts unemployment claims statistics from the last two weeks
The Food and Accommodation category was hit hardest with new claims. The previous week has 1,861 claims. The week ending March 21 to 44,353 claims, a rise of 2,283%.
The next hardest hit sector, Healthcare and Social Assistance, saw 18,192 claims through March 21. This was an increase of 4,035% from just 1,861 the week before.
| Industry | Week Ending 3/14 | Week Ending 3/21 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting | 30 | 237 | 207 | 690% |
| Mining | 2 | 30 | 28 | 1400% |
| Utilities | 5 | 47 | 42 | 840% |
| Construction | 800 | 13,522 | 12,722 | 1590% |
| Manufacturing | 329 | 2,919 | 2,590 | 787% |
| Wholesale Trade | 196 | 2,279 | 2,083 | 1063% |
| Retail Trade | 441 | 9,622 | 9,181 | 2082% |
| Transportation & Warehouse | 521 | 6,772 | 6,251 | 1200% |
| Information | 142 | 1,268 | 1,126 | 793% |
| Finance & Insurance | 169 | 646 | 477 | 282% |
| Real Estate | 119 | 1,676 | 1,557 | 1308% |
| Professional and Technical Services | 521 | 5,175 | 4,654 | 893% |
| Management of Companies | 87 | 1,703 | 1,616 | 1857% |
| Administrative & Waste Services | 604 | 4,422 | 3,818 | 632% |
| Education | 144 | 2,914 | 2,770 | 1924% |
| Healthcare & Social Assistance | 440 | 18,192 | 17,752 | 4035% |
| Arts, Entertainment & Recreation | 194 | 5,137 | 4,943 | 2548% |
| Food & Accomodation | 1,861 | 44,353 | 42,492 | 2283% |
| Other Services | 301 | 11,047 | 10,746 | 3570% |
| Public Administration | 116 | 1,679 | 1,563 | 1347% |
| Information Not Available | 362 | 14,352 | 13,990 | 3865% |
Image Credit: Hsin Ju HSU, Massachusetts Statehouse, CC BY-SA 3.0
