New unemployment claims in Henrico jump up 40%

First-time unemployment claims in Henrico shot up by 40% from their lowest post-pandemic levels to their highest in a month during the most recent filing week, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

A total of 269 people in the county filed initial claims Oct. 11-17, up from 191 during the week before. It was the highest total since the week of Sept. 13-19, when 278 people filed.

Overall since the pandemic began, a total of 40,496 Henricoans have filed initial claims.

Henrico’s continuing claims decreased below 5,000 for the first time since late March, dropping to 4,976, the sixth-highest total in the state.