PORTLAND, Oregon — The Oregon Employment Department will release new unemployment numbers on Thursday, but we already know the claims are skyrocketing. And the system is overloaded with those filing claims and looking for assistance to do it.
In Oregon some WorkSource offices are closed, while others are operating on a limited basis. Starting Tuesday, only limited in-person appointments will be made, according to a spokesperson.
The employment department says it has been able to improve its website so online filing is going better than it did last week, when problems arose. Still, trying to call in with questions or other business is a difficult process.
Kristen Sanders is a physical trainer who was laid off from her job. She was concerned that she needed to fix something on her claim but couldn’t.
“Now I can’t get it amended online; it says to call. You call and of course it is Monday and it’s the start of all this but you cannot get through," Sanders said. "I’ve been trying for four hours and so has my coworker and we can’t get through to talk to anybody.”
Oregon Employment Department spokesperson Gail Krumenauer said they empathize with all who have been laid off, and they are ding everything they can, including adding more call takers, to help with the layoff overload.
“We are experiencing a tremendously high volume and need and we are working hard to address everyone’s needs. And everyone’s individual benefits situation is different and we are trying to reach out to everyone in the most timely manner that we can,” said Krumenauer.
Washington state's Employment Security Department is also seeing extremely high numbers of claims, as the pandemic knocks out businesses. The most extreme example: Unemployment claims from the food and hospitality sector rose 597 percent March 8-14, from the previous week.