Stephens County unemployment hit 400 claims filed

Unemployment claims filed in Stephens County has hit 400 after a review of the Texas Workforce Commission.

Since mid-March, Stephens County has seen 400 individuals filing unemployment claims compared to 20 claims in 2019, according to a recent graph by TWC.

The increased numbers are thought to be due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shortage with the oil and gas market from the Russia and Saudi governments oil price war.

The past two week’s statistics find 40 additional individuals filing for unemployment bringing the total in the county to 400.

The numbers began to increase in mid-March jumping from one claim for the week of March 14 to 12 claims by March 21. That number nearly doubled with 23 additional claims for the week of March 28.

Numbers have steadily increased with 30 more unemployment claims filed for the week of April 4 and 33 additional claims filed for the week of April 11. 36 more claims were filed for the week of April 18 and 24 additional claims were filed for the week of April 25.

In the two weeks of May 2 and May 9, 62 additional claims were filed.

Statistics show 49 additional claims filed for the week of May 16 and since May 16, 68 additional claims have been filed between the weeks of May 23 and May 30.

For June, 43 additional individuals filed claims for the weeks of June 6 and 13. June 20 found an additional 19 citizens file unemployment claims bringing the total to 400.

Statistics from the Texas Workforce Commissioner are released once a week and do not include statistics from late June or July.

Citizens can request payment by logging on to the Texas Workforce Commission’s website. Citizens will need a username and password or can call 800-558-8321 for assistance. When calling for assistance, citizens will need their social security number and a four-digit pin.