/ Modified aug 5, 2020 11:19 p.m.

Arizona unemployment continues to rise

First-time claims neared 300,000 in a week.

Economic insecurity, bills, unemployment
Colleen Greer/AZPM

The weekly unemployment numbers in Arizona jumped by 19,000 first-time claims last week to 289,000 first-time filers.

That number is a combination of people eligible for regular unemployment and the self-employed. Both groups saw increases last week in new claims.

The number of continuing claims is also continuing to hover near the 3 million mark. A week ago, the state Department of Economic Security announced those claims had topped 3 million, but the weekly readjustment of the numbers dropped it just below the mark. This week saw a slight drop in continuing claims.

Payments to the people eligible for unemployment in Arizona topped $874 million last week. That number includes an additional $600 payment for each person from the federal government. Arizona’s top payment is $240.

If Congress does not act by the end of the week, the $600 federal payment will be discontinued.

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