Lincoln – Nebraska’s unemployment claims have fallen from their recent record highs but were still far above average last week, according to new numbers last week.

Nebraska residents filed 16,391 new claims during the week that ended April 11, down from around 27,000 the week prior, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Nebraska set record highs for three straight weeks as state officials imposed new social-distancing restrictions on business and residents hunkered down at home to keep the virus from spreading.

Nebraska has now seen about 85,000 unemployment claims in the last four weeks, double the number it saw in 2019.

Nationally, another 5.2 million people sought benefits last week.

– Associated Press