Comment on More than 60,000 Iowans file for unemployment between Sept. 20-26

Iowa Workforce Development received more than 60,000 weekly unemployment claims for the 28th consecutive week.But the total claims between Sept. 20 and 26 — 63,762 — is the lowest since mid-March.Initial claims slid, from 6,117 to 5,018, this past week after seeing a jump in initial claims of more than 1,500 the previous week.Continuing claims fell from 62,938 to 58,744 last week and have been steadily declining from 189,643 in May.Manufacturing remained the largest source of claims with 1,105, followed by self-employed and independent contractors at 808, health care and social assistance at 464, construction at 396, and accommodation and food services at 323.These claims resulted in $17.1 million in standard unemployment benefits, $4.2 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, $6.1 million in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and $1.1 million in State Extended Benefits.When residents exhaust their 26 weeks of standard unemployment benefits, they can receive 13 weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.