DOL: Nearly 17 million Americans file for unemployment in three weeks

  • This graph paints a bleak picture of the nation's unemployment filings. (Data compiled by the DOL, graph coutesy of NPR)
    This graph paints a bleak picture of the nation's unemployment filings. (Data compiled by the DOL, graph coutesy of NPR)

According to a weekly news release from the U.S. Department of Labor, about 16.8 million Americans have filed initial unemployment claims. That’s roughly the population of the nation’s four largest cities: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston. 

Around 6.6 million people filed unemployment claims in the week ending on April 4, according to the most recent data available. That's just under the previous week's 6.9 million people. DOL analysts expect those numbers to keep rising as the nation continues it's battle against COVID-19.