New Hampshire Unemployment Claims Rise By A Few Hundred

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire had a slight uptick in initial jobless claims last week but saw a decline in those collecting unemployment, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor and New Hampshire Employment Security.

The departments reported 3,305 in new claims for the week ending July 18 with the previous week's claims revised up by about 400 from what was posted July 16. New Hampshire was one of only 15 states that saw an increase in new claims.

More than 1,500 fewer people were collecting unemployment insurance for the week ending July 11 — with around 71,000 receiving benefits.

The decline indicates "a continuation of the trend of more individuals returning to work as pandemic-required restrictions are eased," employment security said. "Continuing claims (by individuals who remain unemployed and file a 'continuing claim' for unemployment insurance) is an important metric in assessing New Hampshire’s progress of economic recovery from pandemic required restrictions and related economic effects."

Since the height of the pandemic, 46,000 workers stopped filing continuing claims meaning they had returned to work, the state said. The state said "community mobility reports" by Google shows that trips by individuals to jobs barely increased in June and July but that likely meant more people were working from home.

Transit and ground transportation, accommodation, personal and laundry services, food services and drinking places, and educational services sectors continue to be the hardest hit as a percentage of those unemployed while food services, ambulatory health care, administrative and support services, and educational services have the most actual job claims filed since the pandemic in March.

Nationally, 1.42 million people filed new unemployment claims with around 31.8 million people claiming unemployment insurance as of July 4.

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube channel.