Fewer people are receiving unemployment benefits

OLYMPIA — Continued unemployment claims decreased by 13,163 to a total of 50,848 at the end of October.

“This total is the lowest four-week moving average for regular continued claims since the start of the pandemic,” stated a spokesperson for Employment Security Department (ESD).

The decrease is likely due to the improving economy and declining jobless claims as COVID cases decrease.

Initial unemployment claims for the same four-week moving average show an increase of 412 to a total of 5,272.

The four-week moving average is designed to show trends over time. The data cover initial and continued claims.

In October, the ESD paid more than $80.7 million in regular benefits to more than 48,964 Washingtonians.