New unemployment applications declined in Montana last week – Martinsville Bulletin

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — New applications for unemployment assistance dropped to 1,611 in Montana last week, the U.S. Employment and Training Administration said Thursday.

That’s a decrease of 14% from the previous week. By comparison, more than 20,000 new unemployment claims were made during both the last week in March and the first week in April, when the economy was initially shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just over 135,000 Montana residents have been unemployed at some point since the pandemic began, which represents nearly 30% of the workforce that is eligible for unemployment insurance, officials said.

The Montana Department of Labor made 35,900 unemployment payments totaling over $17.5 million last week, the first week that the additional $600 in federal unemployment benefits were no longer available. Previous statewide weekly payments had totaled over $40 million.

Gov. Steve Bullock announced Wednesday that Montana would use some of the state’s coronavirus relief funding to start making additional $400 weekly payments included in an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last weekend.

The Department of Labor and Industry said it was working on its application to implement the Lost Wages Assistance program and needed additional federal guidance before the agency would know how long it will take to implement the new program.

“We are committed to making these changes as quickly as possible once the federal government provides us with the information and resources we need to do so,” said Lauren Lewis, spokesperson for the Department of Labor and Industry.

In other COVID-19 related developments:

— Montana confirmed another 142 cases on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to just over 5,400. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested. Studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick. Eighty-one people have died, including a Yellowstone County man in his 60s who died Wednesday, county health officials said. The state reports 101 people were hospitalized Thursday, nearly nearly one-third of the 315 people who have ever been hospitalized due to the respiratory virus.

— Commissioners in Missoula and Lewis and Clark counties decided Thursday to conduct the general election via mailed ballot. Bullock issued a directive last week that allows counties to conduct the November election by mail to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Counties also have to offer the option for people to vote in person. Montana’s primary election was conducted via mail.