By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Even in the dark of night, chalky smoke from the coal power plant looms over Craig. For generations, coal has been a constant in this northwestern Colorado city. But by 2030, the Craig Station stacks will go quiet as Colorado shifts to renewable energy. Coal has fueled not only Colorado’s […]
job losses
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
Colorado unemployment claims spike as federal benefits restart. But fraud is distorting the picture.
The number of Coloradans on unemployment spiked last week as thousands who were eligible for federal pandemic benefits were invited back into the system, according to data from the state Department of Labor and Employment on Thursday. At least 75,415 people on some form of pandemic benefits were able to reopen their claims for the […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
Colorado labor department blames fraud for 63% spike in new unemployment claims
In the week after Christmas, claims by newly out-of-work Coloradans reached 41,439 for those on regular unemployment, an increase of 63.4% from the prior week. The unusually high number wasn’t blamed on the typical cause for spikes during the pandemic — new COVID-19 restrictions that force businesses to limit operations — but rather on fraudsters […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Growth, News, Technology
Coronavirus killed a lot of Colorado jobs, but it also created a host of new ones in technology
As technology companies sent workers home in the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, they also were among the best equipped to keep staff since employees didn’t need to be at the office to sit in front of a computer. And as it turned out, such companies not only added jobs during the pandemic but […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News
Unemployed and nearly homeless, jobless Coloradans whose benefits are on hold are crying for help
Jennifer Milton is one of the 7,800 Coloradans wondering what happened to her weekly unemployment check. She hasn’t received a penny since July 21. The thing is, she just can’t seem to get an answer. There’s no evidence that her account was flagged as fraudulent and caught in the ongoing investigation by state and federal […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News
Colorado to extend state benefits to the unemployed for 13 more weeks
Nearly 22 weeks after Gov. Jared Polis ordered ski resorts to close and triggered the first pandemic job cuts, the state is revving up another financial relief program for out-of-work Coloradans. Called the state extended benefits, or SEB, it extends unemployment benefits for 13 weeks and kicks in after regular benefits and federal emergency benefits […]
Posted inBusiness, News
Fraudulent unemployment claims continue in Colorado, but 30-50% were stopped “at the front door”
As some Coloradans report that they’ve received multiple unemployment benefits debit cards in the mail even though they hadn’t made a jobless claim, the state said it’s ramped up efforts to combat identity theft and thwart fraudulent activity that has bombarded unemployment offices nationwide during the coronavirus pandemic. “Based on a number of characteristics, which […]
Posted inBusiness, News
Audio: The end of the unemployment boost in Colorado
Over the weekend, the extra $600 in weekly pandemic unemployment assistance going out in addition to regular unemployment benefits ran out – as unemployment continues in the state. Recent reporting from Tamara Chuang at The Colorado Sun looks at the impact of that federal assistance ending, along with reporting about thieves targeting that unemployment relief program. Tamara […]
Posted inBusiness, News
The $600 federal unemployment benefit is ending. Here’s what that means for out-of-work Coloradans.
For many out-of-work Coloradans, life will change after Saturday. That’s when the extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits from the U.S. government ends in Colorado, even as many hotels, restaurants, bars and other businesses have not fully reopened due to coronavirus restrictions. As of July 11, Colorado has paid out $1.92 billion in this Pandemic […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News
Another 79,000 Coloradans filed for unemployment last week, bringing coronavirus total to more than 350,000
Another 79,000 initial unemployment claims were filed in Colorado last week. That brings the total number people who have sought aid after losing their jobs since the coronavirus crisis began in the state to more than 358,000. Of the initial unemployment claims filed last week, 38,384 were among people normally eligible for unemployment and 40,906 […]