WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits has reached its lowest level since the pandemic struck last year, further evidence that the U.S. economy and job market are quickly rebounding from the pandemic recession.

WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week but continuing claims dropped, another indication that the labor market recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be choppy. Businesses have reopened at a rapid clip, boosted by a rollback in restrictions now that more than ...

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell for the sixth straight week as the U.S. economy, held back for months by the coronavirus pandemic, reopens rapidly. Jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 376,000 from 385,000 the week before, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The number of people signing up for benefits ...

Pennsylvania’s new unemployment compensation system is now up and running.

With vaccines now readily available and COVID-19 numbers dropping, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry is saying it will soon be time for those on unemployment to start looking for work.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry said it is transitioning to a new, faster and easier to use unemployment benefits system. But, getting rid of its outdated 40-year-old system may cause some headaches in the meantime as the department undertakes the massive project.

No change in the unemployment rate for the state of Pennsylvania.

Following a gap in benefits after the federal government delayed approval of December’s COVID relief and government funding bill, the state Department of Labor & Industry announced it can now resume payments for its temporary federal unemployment programs.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate dipped to 6.7% in December, down 0.1 percentage points from November, and matching the national rate.

Pennsylvania has regained more than half of the jobs lost in March and April because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two weeks after Pennsylvania launched a new layer of fraud checks, most independent contractors and gig workers whose unemployment benefits were temporarily frozen have yet to verify their identities.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry paid more than $29.5 billion in unemployment benefits since Pennsylvania’s businesses first closed in mid-March as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate dropped 2.3 percentage points to 8.1% in September as the state tries to recover from the COVID-19 shutdown.

New identity verification procedures are now in effect for those filing claims with the Pennsylvania Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

The theft of more than $44 million in federal funds meant for unemployed Pennsylvanians was thwarted by government agencies and banking institutions, the U.S. Attorney’s office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced on Tuesday.