Continuing unemployment claims now down eight weeks

DES MOINES — The number of ongoing unemployment claims have dropped for the eighth straight week.  

Iowa Workforce Development reports ongoing claims dropped by 4233 in the last week. Continuing claims are now just under 72,000nd — which is well below the 189-thousand peak 19 weeks ago in May.

The drop came despite an increase of nearly 5700 first-time unemployment claims last week.