Unemployment claims drop

OLYMPIA — Unemployment claims decreased 55.4% during the week ending on Sept. 18.

There were 4,850 initial regular unemployment claims, down from the prior week, according to the Unemployment Security Department (ESD).

Total claims filed for all unemployment benefit categories numbered 112,948, down 55.4% from the prior week, primarily due to the expiration of federal pandemic benefit programs the previous week.

Initial regular claims applications are 75% below weekly new claims applications for the same period last year during the pandemic.

Federal benefit programs, including Pandemic Unemplo...