The viral pandemic keeps forcing layoffs just as the expiration of a $600-a-week federal jobless benefit has deepened the hardships for many. The Labor Department said applications fell to 963,000, the second straight drop, from 1.2 million the previous week. All told, fewer people are also continuing to receive state jobless aid. That figure dropped to 15.5 million, from 16.1 million the previous week. For months, the unemployed had also been receiving the US$600 a week in federal jobless aid on top of their state benefit.

Source: The Standard August 13, 2020 13:30 UTC