Tri-Cities food industry still hard hit by coronavirus closures. Jobless claims climb

Franklin County food manufacturing unemployment claims were double in mid-June than all the new claims combined since the surge in joblessness from the coronavirus pandemic began in March.

Initial claims in food manufacturing in Franklin County totaled 285 during the weeks ending June 13 and 20, according to the Washington State Employment Security Department.

For the previous 12 weeks total, there were only 128 claims. For the week ending June 27, the number of initial claims in Franklin food manufacturing dropped back to zero.

In mid-June, Eagle, Idaho-based Lamb Weston announced it was closing its Connell potato processing plant in Franklin County for three months and laying off 360 workers starting June 15.

The company also laid off 300 workers when it closed its Warden plant an hour north of Pasco.

The plants make frozen french fries and other frozen potato products. The coronavirus has reduced market demand because of restaurant closures in the United States and internationally.

Restaurants, bars hit most

Restaurants and bars remain the most hard-hit in the Tri-Cities.

While the employment department has not yet released June reports, an initial tally from weekly department reports shows that nearly 400 people in food and drinking establishments filed new claims through June 27.

For the week ending June 27, Benton County had 814 new claims and Franklin had 453.

Statewide last week, nearly 32,000 people filed new claims

In Benton County, the jobless rate in restaurants and bars was followed closely by specialty trade contractors. Educational services and food manufacturing were the other two areas with the most claims.

In Franklin County for the same period, specialty trader contractors and food manufacturing were the other industries with the highest claims.

1.2 million claims

A staggering 1.2 million individuals have filed for jobless benefits in Washington since COVID began spreading, according to the department. Of those, about 866,000 have been paid for claims.

For the week ending June 27, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance were the areas with the most new claims across the state.

Along with regular unemployment, expanded unemployment benefits approved through Federal CARES Act offers pandemic unemployment assistance that helps those who do no qualify for regular benefits.

The pandemic emergency unemployment compensation provides a 13-week extension and federal pandemic unemployment compensation that adds $600 each week to claims — but that benefit is set to expire at the end of this month.