Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
True LA stories, powered by you
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:

KPCC Logo

Live Stream Schedule In Person

Keep up with LAist

Our top stories delivered weeknights
Donate

Share This
News

Self-Employed Aren't Yet Counted In The Soaring Unemployment Numbers

By David Wagner
Published Apr 9, 2020 1:40 PM
5e8f8a53f4671c00088b2f00-eight.jpg
A framing art gallery in Venice Beach on April 01, 2020. Another 6.65 million U.S. workers filed for unemployment benefits last week, the most ever recorded. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
LAist only exists with your help.
Full transparency: Although we’ve experienced a huge growth in readership, not nearly enough of our readers have stepped up to support our non-profit model. Please take a moment right now during our spring member drive to keep LAist strong.
"We've got people working around the clock, including on Easter, trying to get as many things as possible out there."

That's what we heard from Loree Levy, spokesperson for California's Economic Development Department, which handles unemployment claims.

More than two million Californians have lost work in the wake of coronavirus-related business closures, according to new unemployment data released Thursday by the Department of Labor.

We take a closer look at those not yet counted in those statistics: The self-employed.

Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor

Frustrated freelancers are still waiting for a new filing process to come online, while state officials say they’re doing their best to keep up with an unprecedented surge in applications.

READ MORE:

Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.