NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —(UPDATED: 4-9-20)
As unemployment has reached a new high across the United States, Tennesseans are signing up for claims by the tens of thousands.
In just three weeks, the number of new unemployment claims skyrocketed to 246,026. This comes as unemployment in the U.S. has topped a record 16.6 million as layoffs accelerate due to the coronavirus. That's roughly 1 in 10 workers who have lost their job in the past three weeks.
This comes as those receiving unemployment in the state may have to wait a little longer while the Tennessee Department of Labor updates its website.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce said just last week, there were 112,438 new unemployment claims in the state. That's up from just 2,702 claims three weeks before, 39,096 claims two weeks before and 94,492 claims when coronavirus caused layoffs in the state.
Data shows some of the hardest hit areas of unemployment include northern Middle Tennessee, the greater Memphis area and East Tennessee.
Number of new claims by area:
- Greater Memphis: 15,452
- Northwest Tennessee: 3,409
- Southwest Tennessee: 3,604
- Northern Middle Tennessee: 47,325
- Southern Middle Tennessee: 10,613
- Upper Cumberland: 4,892
- Southeast Tennessee: 13,578
- East Tennessee: 25,040
- Northeast Tennessee: 6,419
- West TN Mobile American Job Center: 35
- Middle TN Mobile American Job Center: 481
- East TN Mobile America Job Center: 35