Coronavirus Unemployment Claims Continue To Drop In New Hampshire

CONCORD, NH — Thousands of Granite Staters continue to lose jobs due to the new coronavirus but the sheer number of people filing for unemployment claims continued to drop, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

According to initial claims filed for the week ending May 16, 8,333 people filed for unemployment in New Hampshire — a drop of more than 1,000 from last week. The labor department adjusted last week's tally from 9,491 up to 10,016. Federal officials said New Hampshire has about 114,000 people collecting unemployment insurance.

New Hampshire Employment Security released its end-month findings for April Tuesday and put the official unemployment rate in the state at 16.3 percent, "reflecting the impact on unemployment due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it." The rate is the highest unemployment rate in the state's history with adjusted data available as far back as 1976. In the end of the month report, the state reported a little less than 591,000 people were employed — a decrease of more than 152,000 since March and the lowest number of employed residents since May 1994.

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The total number of workers in the labor force is 713,550 — a drop of more than 67,000 people since February. Labor force participate rate reductions are based on people who have either turned 65, retired and were out of the workforce, died, or moved out of the state.

Employment Security said Thursday that 191,471 Granite Staters have applied for unemployment claims as of May 16 — which brings the unofficial unemployment rate, based on the reduced labor participate rate, closer to 26.8 percent in the state.

All but a handful of large towns in New Hampshire saw unemployment claims drop recently. Most of the communities that saw new claims grow reported single digit increases. Windham saw an increase of 15 unemployment claims between May 3 and May 9, according to employment security.

Business sectors in the state still shedding jobs continued to be centered around in full- or limited-service restaurants as well as grocery stores and supermarkets, general medical and surgical hospitals, schools, hotels and motels, and temporary agencies.

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The hardest hit communities for job losses, as a percentage of workforce participation, were in the North Country towns of Lincoln (42.6 percent), Jackson (41.5 percent), and Bartlett (41.1 percent), while the state's largest communities, Manchester (15,571), Nashua (8,640), and Concord (4,816), expectedly, have had the most claims between March 15 and May 9.

Learn More About The Spread Of COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.
• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.
• Anybody who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspect COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic medical conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so people should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e., social distancing).
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

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• More Long-Term Care Facility Deaths, Coronavirus Outbreaks In NH
• NH Business And Nonprofit Aid Highest Priorities For Stakeholders
• Reopen Panel OKs NH Camps, Museums, Weddings; Now, It's Up To The Governor

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