Covid-19 related unemployment in the midlands is 60% of it's peak.
The number of people receiving the pandemic unemployment payment in the midlands has reached 60% of its peak in May.
17,658 will get the government support this week, an increase of over 3,100.
Westmeath remains the worst affected county in the region, with 7,300 out of work.
Meanwhile the figures in Laois and Offaly rose back above 5,000 this week for the first time since July.
Nationally, just under 400,000 people will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment today.
It includes over 32,000 construction workers, and that number is expected to rise after the sector was shut down from Friday.
398,206 people will be getting the payment tomorrow, which is worth over €118 million in total.
There's been an increase of 62,607 on the number of people who were paid last week.
While the sector which has the highest number of people receiving the PUP this week is Accommodation and Food - that accounts for over 100,000 people.
It's followed by more than 65,000 Wholesale and Retail staff, which includes shop workers and also mechanics.
Just under 34,500 people from the Admin and Support Services will be getting the payment today too.
Over 25 percent of those who are receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment today are under the age of 25.
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