Unemployment insurance claims soar in S.C.

Unemployment insurance claims in South Carolina totaled 31,054 in the week ending March 21, an increase of approximately 1600% from the previous week's total of 1,996.

Those figures from the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce represent initial intrastate claims, or claims made by people who both live and work within the state of South Carolina.

In addition, for the week ending March 21, there were 772 interstate additional claims, an increase of approximately 800% from the previous week's total of 97. Those claims were filed by people who live in South Carolina but filed for unemployment insurance against another...