The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost everyone in some way. For workers, the pandemic has heralded a change in how most everything is done. Now meetings are virtual, products are shipped straight from warehouses to customers, and marketing is almost strictly digital.
An unfortunate part of the pandemic is that millions of people have lost their jobs or are suffering from reduced hours and pay. In California, the numbers are staggering. On November 10, the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announced that more than 50,592 claims have been filed by workers across the state. That includes a tragic 282 death claims.
California Jobless Claims on the Rise
These numbers mean that one out of every nine jobless claims in the state is related to COVID-19. The DWC says that the jobless claims began climbing during the first seven months of the year but then started to decline in July. By October, the numbers were rising again – now reaching record numbers. Month-by-month numbers include:
- July – 15,786 claims
- August – 6,910 claims
- September – 4,535 claims
- October – 5,242 claims
With numbers increasing, there could be another spike in November and December.
Job Claims Stem from Five Industry Sectors
According to estimates, jobless claims come from a wide array of industries, though there remains a concentration of small industry sectors with higher numbers of claims. These include:
- Healthcare – 37.1%
- Public Safety/Government – 15%
- Retail – 7.9%
- Transportation – 5.1%
- Food Service – 4.4%
More than three-quarters of all claims for the first ten months of 2020 come from these five industry sectors.
Help for California Workers Impacted by COVID-19
Many California workers may not be aware of their legal rights or if they qualify for workers’ compensation or other benefits. At The Law Offices of Dennis R. Fusi & Associates, we want workers to know that we are here to give you the support you need. If you have questions about your rights as a worker, call us to learn more.
