(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
(CN) The number of Americans applying for unemployment insurance benefits surpassed 1 million last week for the first time since August, according to the Department of Labor’s weekly report.
As of last week, states reported dolling out jobless benefits to 5.8 million people roughly 4.1% of the nation’s 142 million workers eligible to receive benefits.
During the week of Dec. 26, 18.4 million Americans filed claims to continue receiving benefits, including 7.4 million Americans on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and 4.1 million receiving Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. These programs cover gig and part-time workers who aren’t normally eligible for unemployment insurance.