New Jersey is reporting its lowest weekly total of people seeking jobless benefits since the coronavirus outbreak struck.

 

The Labor Department announced Thursday around 34,000 people sought claims last week, down from roughly 42,000 the week before.

Despite the drop-off, the state has processed what it says are a record 1.1 million claims, totaling $4.3 billion in combined state and federal payments.

 

Nationwide, more than 2.1 million Americans filed new unemployment claims last week.

More than 40 million people have filed nationwide since the coronavirus shutdowns in mid-March.