More Mainers applied for state unemployment benefits last week.
The state labor department reports receiving 1,685 first-time claims for benefits in the week ending last Saturday. That was an increase of 220 from the week before.
It’s the second straight weekly increase.
The federal government reported Mainers filing first-time claims under a separate benefit program fell to 469. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program is funded by the federal government. It pays benefits to freelancers, gig economy workers and others who wouldn’t qualify for regular state unemployment benefits.
