Weekly Unemployment Numbers Show Improvement

The Washington State Employment Security Department released it's weekly unemployment numbers for the week ending April 17th.

According to the ESD, initial regular unemployment claims were down 24% from the week prior as last week's rise, partly driven by claimants re-applying for unemployment, begins to taper off.

All four local counties saw significant decreases in claims week over week. Chelan County was down 33%, Douglas 26%, Grant 29% and Okanogan 32%.

Decreases in layoffs in Health Care and Social Assistance, Construction, Retail Trade and Agriculture, and Forestry, Fishing & Hunting contributed to the decrease in claims.