States reported that 770,000 U.S. workers filed for new unemployment benefits during the week ending March 13, an increase of 45,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The total number of workers continuing to claim unemployment benefits fell slightly to 4.1 million. Economists expect the economic outlook to improve as the vaccine rollout and improving weather allow hiring activity to pick up this spring and summer.
About 18 million people overall are receiving some type of unemployment aid. That includes 12.4 million people enrolled in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for gig workers and the self-employed and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which offers an additional 24 weeks of benefits.