FRANKFORT, Ky. — The government says more than 103,000 Kentucky residents applied for unemployment benefits last week. That raises the state's five-week total to about 500,000 people seeking aid. It reflects the disappearance of jobs across an economy in near lockdown from the coronavirus.
The U.S. Labor Department released the latest numbers Thursday. The number of Kentuckians filing for jobless assistance last week was down more than 12,700 from the prior week.
Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman says Kentucky has hired more than 1,000 new workers to help process the unprecedented surge of unemployment insurance claims.
RELATED: Nothing for my hard work!: Kentuckians absolutely frustrated and angry at unemployment system
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.