The filing of initial unemployment claims by Iowans rose more than 5% last week, with 7,644 claims filed, up 373 from the week before. According to a report issued today by Iowa Workforce Development, the number of continuing unemployment claims also increased for the week ending Dec. 26, with 38,296 claims filed, an increase of 804 from the prior week. The increases come during a period when Iowa Workforce Development sees its most unemployment claims filed, driven by seasonal slowdowns in construction, agriculture, landscaping and manufacturing. More than 70% of those people filing claims last week indicated the claims were not related to the coronavirus pandemic. That is up slightly from the week before when 68.9% of claims were unrelated to the pandemic. Unemployment benefit payments for the week totaled more than $10.65 million, with construction and manufacturing having the most claims.