Largest single day total amid COVID-19: 21K filed for unemployment in Wisconsin Monday

MADISON -- The number of people filing for unemployment in Wisconsin continues to skyrocket.

The Department of Workforce Development reported that on Monday, March 23, more than 21,000 people filed claims -- the largest single day total since the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent orders to close schools and businesses to slow the pandemic's spread.

Gov. Tony Evers ordered even more businesses to close starting on Wednesday.

Last year on the same day, there were just over 1,400 claims. The total this year for Monday was 15 times higher.

On Sunday, there were nearly 11,000 claims compared with less than a thousand a year ago.

Evers wants the Legislature to waive a one-week waiting period for people to receive unemployment benefits. That could be applied retroactively, if the Legislature would agree. Lawmakers have not said if or when they would take up such a proposal.

Between March 17 and Monday there were more than 95,000 claims made compared with 4,700 a year before.