OHIO – Of the 101,825 initial claims reported this week, at least 29,000 have been flagged for potential fraud.
Anyone who suspects their identity was compromised and used to file a fraudulent unemployment claim is urged to report it to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) immediately by visiting unemployment.ohio.gov, clicking the “Report Identity Theft” button, and following the instructions. As an alternative, individuals also may call (833) 658-0394.
Ohioans filed 101,825 initial jobless claims last week, according to statistics ODJFS reported to the U.S. Department of Labor this week. The total number of initial jobless claims filed in Ohio over the last 49 weeks (2,665,169) was more than the combined total of those filed from 2014-2019.
Ohioans filed 322,542 continued jobless claims last week, which was 453,760 fewer than – or about 41% of – the peak last year. That includes both traditional unemployment claims and claims for extended benefits. In addition, 235,695 Ohioans received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) last week.
Over the last 49 weeks, ODJFS has distributed more than $8.6 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 941,000 Ohioans. In addition, ODJFS has issued more than $9.1 billion in PUA payments to more than 905,000 Ohioans.
Recovery Efforts
While ODJFS continues to manage the state’s unemployment program, it also has multiple initiatives under way to help spur Ohio’s economic recovery. These include the Ohio To Work initiative to help displaced workers reskill and restart their careers, an $8.5 million National Dislocated Worker Grant that will help unemployed workers and employers impacted by COVID-19, and a $9.4 million grant to expand
apprenticeship opportunities.
ODJFS works in partnership with local workforce development boards and local staff to provide employment and training services at 22 comprehensive and 66 affiliates OhioMeansJobs centers throughout the state.
Individuals can visit OhioMeansJobs.com or contact their local OhioMeansJobs center to find and apply for job openings, take skill and career interest assessments, create or improve their resumes, and practice interviewing