172
AUSTIN, TEXAS — More than 1 million people in Texas have filed for unemployment over the past four weeks, according to data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). By contrast, during the three-week period ending on Saturday, March 14, the state received just 22,000 unemployment claims. The TWC reports that as of April 4, the industries that have borne the biggest job losses are retail trade, accommodation and food services and healthcare and social assistance. The agency, which has been expanding its call center operations and hiring more staff to field claims, also says that it has paid out some $400 million in unemployment benefits since March 14. About 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment during the past four weeks.