| Unemployment claims continue to skyrocket in the Mountain State as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
West Virginia unemployment filings blew past 90,000.
According to a press release, 35,900 unemployment claims have been filed already in April 2020. Last year, 3,905 were filed for the entire month. Thatâs an increase of 819 percent.
A record 17 million have sought US jobless aid since the virus was acknowledged, reaching depression era numbers.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has put a lot of people out of work, and our hearts go out to every person whoâs lost a job these last few weeks,” said Scott Adkins, acting commissioner for WorkForce West Virginia. “I know these are scary times, but folks can be assured that weâre working round the clock with the help of the West Virginia National Guard to process claims and get people the help they need.”
WorkForce announced that West Virginians who are eligible for regular unemployment benefits have started receiving an extra $600 a week, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. | 
