Weekly initial unemployment claims in Mississippi 1987-2020, not seasonally adjusted

More people applied for unemployment in Mississippi last week, the week ending Mar. 28, than in any other week recorded by the U.S. Department of Labor since 1987. The record-breaking number of unemployment claims -- which soars above even the weeks following Hurricane Katrina -- come as many people have lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chart: Anna Wolfe, Mississippi Today Source: DOL Get the data Created with Datawrapper