Massachusetts made it only two straight weeks with improving numbers in new unemployment claims before moving in the wrong direction again last week.
New claims totaled 16,709, up 13% from the week prior, according to new data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor. National numbers were also up, by 14%, to hit more than 1.1 million. The prior week was the first time since mid-March that national weekly numbers fell below 1 million.
Massachusetts numbers have generally been on a gradual decline over the summer, improving from a high point in March but remaining multitudes higher than during a normal week before the pandemic. A year ago, the state had just over 4,000 weekly claims.
Total new claims since mid-March have been highest in Massachusetts in food and accommodation (161,393), health and social assistance (148,213) and retail (142,900).
Massachusetts had the nation’s highest unemployment rate in June, at 17.5%. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is due to release state-by-state rates for July on Friday.
The Worcester metropolitan area’s unemployment rate in June was 15.8%.
