New unemployment claims in Michigan drop while jobless rate jumps
Crain s Detroit Business
Print
Some 17,553 people filed new unemployment claims in Michigan last week, a nearly 6,000 drop from the previous week as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its assault on the economy.
Across the U.S., however, the number of Americans overall applying for unemployment benefits rose again last week to 885,000, up from 862,000 the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
It shows that nine months after the coronavirus outbreak paralyzed the economy, many employers are still slashing jobs as the pandemic forces more business restrictions and leads many consumers to stay home.
COVID-19 Update: Business Association Urges Public Support of Michigan Restaurants and Hotels, State Jobless Rate Increases in November, and More
Here is a roundup of the latest news concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to announcements from local, state, and federal governments, as well as international channels. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Courtesy of Bridge
Here is a roundup of the latest news concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to announcements from local, state, and federal governments, as well as international channels. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
LANSING – A month after its statewide launch, the MI COVID Alert app has reached nearly 500,000 downloads.
Today the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) announced there have been 461,192 downloads of MI COVID Alert. The state also rolled out a second option for users to receive the PIN required to anonymously share a positive COVID-19 test result.
“So much about fighting COVID is hard, but this is easy: Please download MI COVID Alert on your phone,” said Robert Gordon, director of MDHHS. “It protects your privacy, and it will help protect us all. If we hit even a million downloads by January 2021, we’ll be safer until a vaccine is available to the broader population.”
Michigan jobless rate rises for first time since April
Michigan s seasonal unemployment rate increased by eight-tenths of a percentage point in November to 6.9%, the first increase since the April plunge in jobs, officials said.
Total employment in November decreased by 14,000, while the number of unemployed rose by 43,000, according to data released Wednesday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. In November, Michigan’s unemployment rate rose for the first time since April, said
Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and
Strategic Initiatives in a press release. With payroll jobs also decreasing slightly this month, the recent surge in COVID-19 cases is still having an impact on the state’s labor market.
What’s New in Civic Tech: Pearl Jam Publicizes New COVID App
Plus, Michigan’s central IT shop has now released new data about its work helping with the pandemic response, the University of Kansas shares its 54th edition of a statewide data set, and more.
As states continue to roll out COVID-19 exposure alert apps for residents, the challenge becomes getting the word out about them. Washington state, however, recently got some help in this effort from that’s right, you guessed it Pearl Jam.
Specifically, the state got some help from Pearl Jam rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard, a native of Seattle. Gossard helped out by teaming with the Washington State Department of Health for a YouTube PSA. The brief roughly 40 seconds video is a good example of how notable members of a community can use tech to help government solve obstacles, and it is perhaps a small hint at what’s to come once similar efforts begin in full force for the COVID-19 vaccine, presumably using technolo