Lincoln – The U.S. Department of Labor reported another record-setting surge in the number of unemployment claims last week filed in Nebraska and nationally.

 More than 40,000 people in Nebraska have filed claims in the last two weeks as businesses have closed and laid off workers.

Nebraska Labor Commissioner John Albin said his office has received calls from businesses that workers are threatening to quit because they can get better pay under the expanded unemployment benefits. Albin said many mistakenly believe they can qualify for benefits if they quit, which isn’t true.

“That’s not a valid plan,” he said.

Iowa Workforce Development officials also announced Thursday that there were 58,453 claims for unemployment insurance filed last week in Iowa, a galling figure that came a week after residents filed 42,000 claims. Before the virus hit Iowa, jobless claims typically were around 2,200 a week.

– Associated Press