New unemployment claims have ticked up in Maine, where the coronavirus pandemic is continuing to have an impact on the job market.
The Maine Department of Labor said there were about 3,900 initial claims for state unemployment insurance during the week that ended Jan. 2. That number was an increase from 2,700 new claims the previous week.
The labor department said a total of 4,300 people filed a new claim or reopened an unemployment claims. That was an increase of 1,000 from the previous week.
It’s standard for Maine to see layoffs this time of year due to the end of seasonal jobs, and that has been made worse by the pandemic, the department said.
“Maine typically sees increases in state unemployment claims this time of year due to seasonal layoffs that occur every winter, such as in accommodations, eating and drinking places, construction, landscaping, and temporary help,” the department said in a statement. “Some of these industries have seen increased impact due to COVID-19.”