Weekly unemployment claims increased in Mid-May for the first time in two weeks. For the week there were 968 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont. This is an increase of 236 claims from the week before, and 63 fewer than last year's total.
Altogether 7,499 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 60 from a week ago and 1,616 fewer than a year ago. The Department also processed 1,418 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 7 fewer than a week ago. In addition, there were 738 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is 9 more than the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at:http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at:http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc
Vermont's unemployment rate fell two-tenths to 4.6 percent in April. This is the lowest rate in New England and fourth lowest in the US. See statistics below and storyHERE.