Bonus Index: Jobs by the numbers

Here are 10 numbers related to unemployment caused by the response to COVID-19.

581,500: The number of Oregonians who have filed for regular unemployment since March 15.

78,500: The number of Oregonians who filed for regular unemployment during a comparable period last year.

1,107: Initial claims for regular unemployment remaining to be processed.

1,100: Number of employees processing claims as of Aug. 18.

180,756: Number of claims received for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), the program for self-employed and gig workers who don’t qualify for regular unemployment.

63,867: The number of PUA claims paid.

70 minutes: The average wait time for Oregonians calling the department on Wednesday, down from 72 minutes the prior week.

2,230: The number of calls answered on Wednesday.

Unknown: The number of calls received Wednesday.

$4.9 billion: Benefits paid to Oregonians.

7.7%: The Oregon unemployment rate, down from 10.4% in July.