OLYMPIA, Wash. – New unemployment claims surged in Washington state last week amid the outbreak – including a nearly 600% increase in claims from the hotel and food service sector – and officials say the worst is yet to come.

State employment officials anticipate substantially higher numbers of new claims in the report that will come out next week.

Over 14,000 new claims for unemployment benefits were filed with the state last week – a 116% increase over the number filed just the week before.

In King County, the number of new claims was more than three times higher than the previous week.

 

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