States Differ Greatly in Share of Jobless Claims Not Paid: Chart

At least 9 million Americans who lost jobs during the pandemic didn’t receive any unemployment benefits despite the largest deployment of economic aid in U.S. history, according to a Bloomberg Businessweek estimate based on a review of more than a year’s worth of Labor Department data. The data also highlight stark differences among states, with California having paid more than 70% of claims for regular unemployment during the 13 months beginning in March 2020, while Montana didn’t pay benefits to 89% of those who applied. “Depending on where you live when you lose your job, you either have a ...