The number of federal employees applying for unemployment insurance has spiked dramatically, according to new figures released as the partial government shutdown approaches the seven-week mark.
According to the Department of Labor, federal civilian employees filed 25,419 initial jobless claims in the week ending Jan. 12, about 15,000 more than the previous week. The 143 percent jump came around the time that the shutdown became the longest in U.S. history.
{mosads}Some 800,000 federal employees are either furloughed or working without pay during the shutdown, which began Dec. 22, but many are not eligible for benefits. The 450,000 employees who are working without pay are not eligible to apply for unemployment insurance, and states have different requirements for who can participate.
California, for example, recently said it would provide benefits to federal employees working without pay, despite the Labor Department guidance.
Federal employees on Friday are expected to miss their second consecutive paycheck since the shutdown began.
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