Florida’s new unemployment claims nearly double in one week

ORLANDO, Fla. — Editor’s note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

Florida saw its first-time unemployment claims for the week ending July 11 nearly double from the week prior.

There were 129,408 first-time claims in Florida last week, up from 66,941 in the previous week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Florida went from No. 5 in the nation to No. 3 for most unemployment claims for the week, behind only California (287,732) and Georgia (136,336).

Florida’s economy has been reopening slowly since May, but a rise in Covid-19 cases has caused the state to implement policies that may challenge some businesses like bars.

Here's how Central Florida counties stand for unemployment claims from March 15-June 27, the most recent data available, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity:

• No. 3: Orange, 208,824 claims
• No. 8: Osceola, 68,185 claims
• No. 11: Volusia, 47,305 claims
• No. 12: Brevard, 46,245 claims
• No. 13: Seminole, 43,694 claims
• No. 15: Lake, 34,182 claims

Click here to read Ryan Lynch’s story on the Orlando Business Journal’s website.

Video: Woman says she's received 1 unemployment check since mid-March Floridas unemployment website was down Thursday night and was malfunctioning again Friday, which is the latest in a series of frustrations for Central Floridians not getting paid.

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