The Alabama Department of Labor has released initial unemployment insurance claims for the week of May 2-8, showing 1,516 new claims filed in the southwest Alabama coverage area.
For comparison, during the week of May 3-9, 2020, the same area recorded 4,616 initial claims as the pandemic drove widespread job losses.
Statewide, 10,841 initial claims were filed either online or by telephone during the week of May 2-8, with about 8,434 of those estimated to be COVID-19 related. Jefferson County led the state with 1,716 claims.
The industries with the most claims in Alabama were administrative and support and waste management services (931), manufacturing (914), retail (869), accommodation and food services (816), and health care and social assistance (774).