(WXYZ) — More 1 million people in Michigan have filed for unemployment, the state announced on Monday. That is equal to 1/4 of the state's entire workforce.
Related: Michigan unemployment website experiencing heavy volumes, encouraging people to apply on other days
According to Jeffrey Donorfrio, the director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, these numbers are the largest in the state's history.
In video presser w/ Michigan Labor Department's Jeff Donofrio.
— Ameera David (@AmeeraDavid) April 14, 2020
So far, 350 million has been paid out in unemployment claims to 600K people. Additional 700K workers approved for upcoming payments.
*Over a million now unemployed or underemployed, 1/4 of the state's workforce* pic.twitter.com/MihY1eWDIs
The state has expanded staff, and last week, the number was at more than 830,000. That jumped to more than 1 million on Monday.
Also Monday, the unemployment application window opened for those who are self-employed, independent contractors, low-wage workers or gig workers.
Michigan has seen the third largest number unemployment claims in the country behind California and Pennsylvania.
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