First-time unemployment claims skyrocket in Henrico, state

First-unemployment claims skyrocketed in Henrico County during the most recent reporting week – more than doubling the previous week’s claims and reaching their highest single-week total in nearly nine months, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. But VEC officials believe that widespread fraudulent claims may be to blame for many of the new claims.

A total of 657 county residents filed initial claims with the VEC during the week of April 18-24 – up from the 323 who did so the previous week. It was the highest single-week total of new filers in Henrico since 666 people filed during the week that ended Aug. 1, 2020.

As troubling as the news was for Henrico, it was just as bad or even worse elsewhere. Henrico, the state’s seventh-largest locality, was only 13th in the highest number of new filers during the most recent week. Richmond topped the list with 2,051 first-time filers – more than triple the number who filed the previous week – while Prince William and Norfolk (Nos. 2 and 3 on this week’s list) – each saw their totals nearly triple.

Statewide, initial claims rose by a staggering 171% from the previous week – to more than 37,350 people, according to the VEC. Agency officials are investigating to determine how many of the claims may be fraudulent.

In contrast to the recent numbers, the number of continuing claims in Henrico and the state have remained relative stable throughout 2021. Henrico’s total grew by just 8 – to 1,839 – during the week that ended April 24.

The statewide total dropped by nearly 1,000 people.