Henrico's first-time unemployment claims rise slightly

The number of people who filed initial unemployment claims in Henrico County during the week ending July 11 rose slightly compared with the previous week, as the county neared the 35,000-mark for first-time claims in the 17 weeks since the pandemic began.

A total of 973 Henricoans filed initial claims July 5 to 11, an increase of 16 people from the previous week and just the second week the number had risen week over week since the week ending April 4.

The good news is that the number of county residents who have filed continuing claims decreased slightly, to just more than 15,100 – or about 42 percent of all first-time filers during the past 17 weeks. That likely indicates that a number have returned to work.

Last week’s new filings pushed Henrico’s pandemic total just slightly ahead of those of neighboring Chesterfield County (by a total of 21 people), ranking the county sixth among localities statewide in first-time filers during that time.

Statewide, the number of first-time filers also increased slightly during the most recent week – by about 1.5%.