California recorded 342,747 continued unemployment benefit claims in a single week last month, a figure that significantly surpassed all other states, according to a new analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data. The state's number of claims was more than double that of New York, which had the second-highest count with 168,427.
An analysis by the AI productivity platform Plus examined federal data for the period between July 4 and July 11. It found that California had 1,905.6 continued unemployment benefit claims for every 100,000 workers covered by its unemployment insurance system. This rate ranked California seventh nationwide when claims were adjusted for the size of the covered workforce. The national average for that period was 1,027 claims per 100,000 covered workers, making California's rate nearly 86% higher.
While California's raw total reflects its large workforce, the state's adjusted rate still placed it among the highest nationally. A continued unemployment claim indicates a claimant is still receiving benefits after an initial application, serving as a measure of ongoing unemployment activity.
New Jersey reported the highest rate of continued claims, with 2,650.6 per 100,000 covered workers, which was approximately 158% above the national average. However, its total of 112,222 continued claims was considerably lower than California's. Rhode Island followed with the second-highest rate at 2,334.5 per 100,000, and Massachusetts was third at 2,150.1.
At the other end of the spectrum, South Dakota had the lowest rate, with 284.9 continued claims per 100,000 covered workers, about 72% below the national average. Florida followed with the second-lowest rate at 331.8, and North Carolina was third lowest at 413.5.
Daniel Li, CEO and co-founder of Plus, noted that the findings highlight disparities in unemployment pressures across the country. He also stated that most states have seen a decline in unemployment benefit claims since 2025, with the exception of eight states. The distinction between a state's total number of claims and its unemployment rate is significant in understanding the impact on different workforces.