Initial, continuing unemployment claims continue to fall in Henrico

First-time unemployment claims in Henrico County during the most recent reporting week fell to levels not seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, according to data from the Virginia Employment Commission.

Just 237 Henrico residents filed initial claims Sept. 20-26, according to the data – down about 15% from the previous week and two below the previous post-pandemic low for a week of 239, set four weeks earlier.

The new filings pushed Henrico past the 40,000 mark for first-time filers since the pandemic began – to 40,228 – but only 6,796 of those people who filed before Sept. 20 are continuing to file claims. That total is down more than 6% from last week and has fallen for six straight weeks.

Henrico remains seventh in the state among continuing filers, with slightly more than Chesterfield County.