MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- New unemployment compensation claims in Wisconsin this year are running 76 percent higher than at this time last year.
According to preliminary data from the state Department of Workforce Development, more than 417,000 initial applications for benefits were filed through last week. That's almost 180,000 more than had been filed at this point last year.
Also, more than 3 million claims have been continued so far in 2009.
Milwaukee County had the most new unemployment claims last week -- about 2,400 in the single week.
