ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Initial jobless claims in Florida dropped by more than half last week compared to the prior week.
According to U.S. Department of Labor figures released Thursday, Florida had 173,191 initial claims for unemployment benefits last week. That compares to 433,103 initial claims in the week prior.
Florida officials say more than 1.1 million confirmed claims have been submitted since mid-March. Of that number, almost 481,500 claimants, or 43%, have been paid more than $1 billion, as of Tuesday.
Unemployed Floridians have complained widely about the state’s online system for registering claims making the process of filing for benefits extremely difficult.
On May 1, Gov. Ron DeSantis called for an investigation into Florida’s unemployment system as hundreds of thousands of Floridians wait for help.
LATEST STORIES:
- Showers end, turns much colder Monday
- We Are The Essentials calls off search for missing 72-year-old South Tampa woman
- Where there’s water, there’s a gator: Here are the most alligator-infested lakes in Florida
- Holiday tents open up to help families in need for Christmas
- Mama June says daughter Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell has died at 29
