State unemployment claims drop by 10%

OLYMPIA — New unemployment claims dropped by 10% from the week before.

For July 18-24 the state Employment Security Department registered 4.554 new claims for unemployment payments. Compare to the same week in 2020, it’s down 84%.

Overall, 11,097 people are drawing from unemployment, which is down by 1.5% from the week earlier.

“The 4-week moving average for initial claims is at 5,257 … the 4-week moving average of initial claims pre-pandemic (was) 6,071 initial claims. That level represents the lowest levels of initial claims for regular benefits since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last...