Economics
Why Pennsylvania Had Far More Jobless Claims Than Other States
- Earlier shutdown, encouragement to file may have been factors
- Manufacturing woes meant some people were ‘ready to file’
A lone pedestrian crosses at 8th and Market streets in Philadelphia, Penn. on March 24.
Photographer: Heather Khalifa/The Philadelphia Inquirer via APThis article is for subscribers only.
Of the 3.3 million Americans applying for unemployment last week amid coronavirus shutdowns, the biggest share by far came from Pennsylvania, the fifth-largest state -- but it may be just a sign that many more filings are to come.
It’s not clear if there was one overriding reason for the disparity, but there are several plausible explanations: The governor shut down business before other states, officials encouraged and made it easier for residents to apply for benefits, and administrators may be processing claims faster.