CONTINUED UPTICK IN UNEMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS IN WASHINGTON, AREA COUNTIES

  

Unemployment claims in Washington and surrounding counties continue to rise as economic hardships caused by COVID-19 affect more and more people.

Data from the first week of April from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) shows that 149 people in Washington County applied for unemployment insurance in the week ending April 4^th.  Those numbers are up from 123 applicants the week ending March 28^th, 62 the week ending March 21^st, and 69 the week ending March 14^th.

All but one area county’s unemployment claims increased in the first week of April from the last week of March: Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Lee, and Waller Counties all reported higher unemployment claims, with Fayette County the only one to report lower numbers.

The full data from surrounding counties can be seen below:

  Claims for Week Ending

                     4/4             3/28            3/21           3/14

•                Austin:                   170             109              100             28
•                Brazos:                  1,739         1,426            974             73
•                Burleson:                91               81               43               13
•                Fayette:                  94               99               54                6
•                Grimes:                  168            127               69               11
•                Lee:                        89               53               62               13
•                Waller:                    414            302              205             29

Statewide, the industries that saw the most unemployment claims for the week ending April 4^th were retail trade with 49,236, accommodation and food services with 44,415, and health care and social assistance with 36,581.

Unemployment insurance applicants can either go online to https://twc.texas.gov, or call 1-800-939-6631.