Wisconsin is seeing a surge in unemployment claims as many businesses temporarily close their doors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this same week last year, the Department of Workforce Development saw 5,216 claims for unemployment benefits. As of Wednesday -- just a four-day period -- DWD received 29,482.
The majority of those claims, almost 15,000, came Wednesday, according to numbers released by DWD Thursday.
Tuesday, Gov. Tony Eversordered all bars and restaurants to close. He also banned gatherings of 10 or more people, effectively shuttering other industries.
In the past week,many large employers have announced a need to temporarily close so as to not spread the virus and reduce costs as consumers practice social distancing.
These preliminary unemployment figures may be the first indication of what is in store for Wisconsin's labor pool for the duration of the response to the new coronavirus.
To read more go to WKOW: https://wkow.com/2020/03/19/unemployment-claims-soar-as-businesses-close-state-wide/
Photo: WKOW