Experts highlight factors that make state unique
Emily Previti
Pennsylvanians filed more claims for unemployment compensation in recent weeks than the commonwealth has seen in a comparable timeframe, and the most nationally so far in the economic shutdown that officials — all of us, really — hope will contain the spread of COVID-19.
Pa. also is the sixth-most-populous state with the fifth largest workforce in the country.
But even when the number of claims filed is adjusted to account for those metrics, Pennsylvania still (nearly) tops the list, with 6 percent of the total workforce filing for unemployment, according to the most recent figures for all 50 states.
My latest story explores why unemployment claims are hitting such highs in Pennsylvania — so many came in on Monday the state’s processing system crashed multiple times, as Spotlight PA’s Rebecca Moss reported.
Hawaii, West Virginia and Illinois are among the other states where filing systems were overwhelmed by the number of claims submitted recently.
Some states responded by making changes such as switching to a structured filing schedule with designated times and/or days for people to submit claims based on last name or Social Security number. A few states (Colorado, for example) already were doing that before getting slammed by coronavirus filings.
Wisconsin, Utah, Arizona and other states that take their systems offline nightly or weekly for maintenance, versus the 24/7 submission process that’s the norm in some states, including Pa.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry declined to comment when asked Tuesday whether the commonwealth will consider similar approaches or other changes to avoid problems going forward.
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