Over 26,000 Unemployment Claims Filed In Illinois For Week Of August 17, Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

CHICAGO (CBS)-- The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported 26,262 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of August 17 in Illinois.

There were 1,006,000 new claims filed across the country last week.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security said 22,406 unemployment claims were filed during the week of August 10 in Illinois.

IDES reported 22,934 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of August 3 in Illinois.

CBS 2 has extensively reported about how unemployment has surged in Illinois and neighboring states during the coronavirus pandemic.

CBS 2 spoke with four IDES employees in May. For the first time, these workers offered a glimpse into the challenges IDES employees face daily working to get thousands of new unemployment claims processed, as well as the factors they believe contribute to why so many people have not received their benefits.