A big jump in claims by payroll workers sent first-time unemployment claims filed in Colorado higher for a third consecutive week, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reported Thursday.

Colorado first-time unemployment claims rise for second consecutive week

Claims from payroll workers in the week ending Oct. 3 jumped 21.7% from the previous week to 5,892, the highest weekly total since the week ended Sept. 5. Claims by self-employed persons, independent contractors and “gig” workers under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program fell 4.3% to 2,309 during the same period. First-time claims were up 13.1% from the previous week to 8,201. Since mid-March, when the pandemic took hold, the agency has received 569,357 claims from payroll workers and 164,763 claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for 734,120 claims.

Colorado first-time unemployment claims edge back up

Ryan Gedney, the department’s senior economist, said claims typically increase at the beginning of a quarter for technical reasons.

Wayne Heilman, The Gazette