DES MOINES, Iowa - Jobless claims in Iowa last week surged to 40,952. That's a jump of almost 40,000 when claims totaled 2,229.
Iowa Workforce Development says more than $10.5 million in jobless benefits were paid to state residents last week.
The department says it's receiving an unprecedented level of calls and has several hundred staff members answering those calls daily.
Jobless claims nationally jumped to 3.3 million, 10 times the previous high set in 1982
According to Workforce Development, the five industries with the most COVID-19 related jobless claims last week were Food Services (13,364), Health Care and Social Assistance (4,936), Education Services (2,698), Other Services (1,999) and Retail Trade (1,710).