New weekly unemployment claims in N.J. dip below 10,000 for first time since beginning of pandemic

New unemployment claims filed in New Jersey declined for the fourth straight week last week, and dropped below 10,000 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began a year ago.

For the week ending March 6, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported 9,840 new unemployment claims – 544 fewer than the prior week.

The state has received a record 2,044,177 new jobless claims in the past year, and has paid $23.9 billion to unemployed people during the pandemic. The average unemployment claimant has received more than $16,000 in benefits, officials said. 

“It’s a welcome sign to see new unemployment claims fall back to a level not seen since COVID-19 ravaged our workforce,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo in a written statement. “But, it would be a mistake to think the workforce has rebounded. Too many workers are still reeling from the pandemic, and they are anxiously awaiting a new rescue package from Congress.” 

If the American Rescue Plan is signed into law before current federal benefits expire on March 13, officials said most New Jersey claimants will transition seamlessly to those extended benefits.  

Officials also said the Department of Labor has now processed a new batch of FEMA Lost Wages Assistance payments for claimants who became eligible for this federal benefit retroactively since the last time the payments were processed. Eligible claimants have received separate payments in their direct deposit accounts or debit cards this week. 

Week-by-week totals of new unemployment claims:  

The breakdown of weekly benefits payments to eligible New Jersey workers: