Unemployment claims increased between 12% and 17% due to the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, according to a new report from the nonpartisan California Policy Lab.
Unemployment claims increased between 12% and 17% due to the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, according to a new report from the nonpartisan California Policy Lab.
Analysis by researchers at the University of California institute showed that unemployment claims surged not only in the fire zones but also among people living in neighborhoods far from the fires, especially in South and Central Los Angeles. There were also large increases in claims from workers in low-wage industries like accommodations and food services, and workers with lower levels of education.
“Our analysis shows the economic impacts extended beyond the Palisades and Altadena, as workers who live in areas like South and Central L.A. but commuted to work in the fire areas also filed for unemployment in the aftermath of the fires,” explains report co-author Till von Wachter, faculty director of the California Policy Lab at UCLA and a professor of economics. “This report shows the critical role that unemployment insurance benefits can play in supporting people after natural disasters, and also provides insights that can be helpful for future disaster response planning and targeting relief to impacted people.”
Read more at: University of California Las Angeles
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