Clinton County Unemployment Claims Continue Decline

LOCK HAVEN – Clinton County’s continued unemployment claims declined for the fifth week in a row during the pandemic, while new claims went up slightly.

The state Labor and Industry reports that during the week ending June 6, Clinton County had 1,999 continued unemployment claims, down from the 2,242 on the rolls the week prior. Of the 1,999, 50.2 percent are female, 18 percent are in the food and accommodations sector, and 23 percent of them are ages 25 to 34. On May 2, there was a high of 3,211 continued claims.

Clinton County had 80 workers seek initial claims during the week ending June 6, up slightly from the 76 listed the prior week. Of the 80, 66 percent were male, 16 percent were in the manufacturing field, and 24 percent of them were ages 25 to 34. April 4 saw 1,049 seek initial claims, the highest weekly total during the virus period.

Clinton County’s April unemployment rate was 16.6 percent, the highest in almost four decades, but ranked No. 31 out of the county’s 67 counties. The May county unemployment rate should be released at the end of June.