Nearly 400,000 Oregonians unemployed, officials say

The Employment Department has nearly 700 workers working seven days a week

Thousands of oregonians still haven't been paid unemployment... almost two months later.

But, the employment department is making progress.

Kezi nine news reporter connor mccarthy is live in the studio to show us what they're doing to catch up.

Matt and renee-- all this data i'm about to show you is for the week ending in may 9th.

This graph behind me shows unemployment claims received.

At the end of last week, more than 14- thousand people filed for benefits.

The employment department says they have processed 86-percent of those claims. in our viewing area... the coos county unemployment rate is at 4 point 3 percent.

Douglas county is sitting at 4 point 5 percent.

Lane county is at 3 point 5 percent.

Linn county is at 3 point 9 percent.

And benton is at 2 point 6 percent.

Now when i was going through the employment departments website... i found this break down of the percentage of unemployed in each industry throughout the state.

35 percent of those employed in the hospitality and food industry have filed for benefits.

25 percent of workers in arts, entertainment and recreation did as well.

Matt and renee still-- tens of thousands of unemployment claims remain unprocessed.

Some people have had to wait seven weeks for their first check.

The employment department says they now have 690 employees processing claims seven days a week.

Reporting live in the studio connor mccarthy kezi nine news.