Illinois Unemployment Claims Surge To Over 201,000 For Week Of March 30, Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

CHICAGO (CBS)-- The Illinois Department of Employment Security says 201,041 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of March 30 in Illinois, a new record for the state.

It's the most claims reported in a single week so far during the pandemic, as jobless claims continue to surge across the country.

Last week, the IDES said unemployment claims for the week of March 23 totaled 178,421.

Last week, the claims filed in Illinois were among a record 6.6 million claims filed last week in the U.S.

The Department of Labor's report referenced layoffs in Illinois including in the accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance and manufacturing industries. While the numbers are dire, there are some companies who are hiring.