New unemployment claims decreased week over week July 5th and were 94% below the peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help add some context to these statistics, Wallet Hub just released updated rankings for the states whose unemployment claims are recovering the quickest. Montana ranks 30th. The most recovered state is Kentucky and the least recover state is New Mexico. 12 states had unemployment claims last week than were lower than before the pandemic and Rhode Island’s was worse than the same week last year.
Governor Gianforte stopped additional federal COVID-19 supplemental unemployment insurance funding and the state now gives a bonus for people who are going back to work. Wednesday, Brad Griffin of the Montana Retail Association was asked on Voices of Montana if that’s working.
