Iowa’s number of continuing unemployment claims dropped during the week ending August 1st to 104,970 people. According to Iowa Workforce Development, the number of continuing claims decreased by 5,072. Also, the initial unemployment claims in Iowa last week totaled 6,765. The unemployment insurance benefit payments for the week of July 26 to August 1st totaled just under $30 million.

The five industries with the highest claim numbers were manufacturing (1,429), self-employed and independent contractors (981), health care and social assistance (648), retail (458), and education services (407).

The $600 weekly additional benefit stopped when the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefits ended on July 25th. In June state extended benefits were announced for those who have exhausted the additional 13 weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. Claimants are encouraged to continue to file weekly claims which are then reviewed for eligibility for the state extended benefits.