Henrico's initial unemployment claims drop to post-pandemic low for third straight week

First-time unemployment filings in Henrico dropped slightly during the most recent reporting week to just 370 – another post-pandemic low – according to data released Thursday by the Virginia Employment Commission. It was the third straight week of decline, following three straight weeks of increases.

Initial filings each of the past three weeks on record – 666, 379 and now 370 – were lower than any other single week since the pandemic began in mid-March.

Henrico’s total fell during the week ending Aug. 15 even as the overall total of first-time filers statewide rose by 14.2%, according to the VEC. Henrico ranked eighth statewide in the number of filers during the most recent week and also ranks eighth overall in total number of first-time filers since the pandemic began, with 38,680 (just behind Chesterfield County, which is seventh). Richmond is fourth with nearly 46,000.

The number of Henrico residents who have filed initial unemployment claims at some point in recent months who are still filing continuing claims fell for a sixth consecutive week, down to 10,846. That’s the lowest it’s been since mid-April and indicates that a number of those who were unemployed likely are now back to work.