As 2020 came to a close, Colorado's unemployment rate continued to climb as thousands of new unemployment claims were filed around the state.

The Greeley Tribune says 25,360 additional regular initial unemployment claims were filed between Dec. 20 and Dec. 26, along with 19,555 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims filed that same week, as per reports from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

984,043 total claims have been made, including 732,119 regular initial unemployment claims and federal pandemic unemployment benefits since mid-March of 2020.

The Greeley Tribune reported that the agency said a combined total of 265,507 continued claims were filed from the regular unemployment insurance, pandemic unemployment and pandemic emergency unemployment compensation programs during the week ending Dec. 19.

$6.69 billion has been paid in unemployment benefits through every program that has been available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most claims made during the pandemic have been for lodging, food services, and health care.

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