The number of unemployment claims filed by Iowans last week slipped 5.4% from the previous week to 77,333, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows.

However, the new data also shows that initial claims filed by people who work in food services and accommodations industries rose for the third straight week. During the week that ended on Saturday, 565 food service and accommodations workers filed first-time claims; the previous week, 529 had filed new claims and in the week that ended Aug. 22, 409 had filed new claims.

The rise in first-time unemployment claims filed by people in food services and accommodations industries coincides with a late August state order that closed drinking establishments until at least Sept. 20. The order is in place in Polk, Black Hawk, Dallas, Johnson, Linn and Story counties. The order was issued in reaction to a spike in new novel coronavirus cases.

The order issued by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds affects 273 bars, 29 breweries, 16 wineries and four distilleries, according to the Iowa Restaurant Association.

The Iowa Workforce Development data does not indicate in what counties the new claims were filed by food service and accommodation workers.

Data released today by the state agency today also shows that in the week that ended on Saturday:

• $20.1 million in jobless benefits was paid out of the state’s unemployment compensation trust fund. Since mid-March, Iowa has paid out more than $869.3 million in unemployment claims.
• $4.5 million was paid from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation fund. Since April 4, nearly $1.6 billion in additional benefits has been paid to Iowans from the federal fund.  
• $4.21 million was paid to self-employed Iowans through the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance fund. Since late April, more than $106.4 million has been paid to Iowans from the fund.
• $4.98 million was paid from the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation to Iowans whose unemployment insurance has run out. Since May 27, when the program began, out-of-work Iowans have received $61.5 million from the fund.
• $1 million was paid in State Extended Benefits. Since July 21, $5.4 million has been paid in extended benefits.

National data
New unemployment claims filed week ending Sept. 5: 884,000
People continuing to receive jobless benefits for week ending Aug. 29: 13.3 million
Advanced seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for week ending Aug. 29: 9.2%

Note: The continuing claims and unemployment rate lag by a week from initial claims filings.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor.