OESC reviewing Back-to-Work Initiative applications

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) – The OESC continues to prioritize reviewing Back-to-Work applications.

“We are continuing to review applications for the Back-to-Work Initiative,” said Shelley Zumwalt, OESC Executive Director. “The agency has received more than 2,100 applications from eligible claimants, and we are continuing to pay out the $1,200 to those applicants once approved. We are expecting to see a higher influx of eligible applicants in August and early September as claimants wrap up their six consecutive weeks of employment. I encourage all eligible claimants to apply for the initiative once they’ve completed their six weeks of work.”

The OESC encourages all claimants who had an active claim between May 2-May 15, 2021 and who have completed their six consecutive weeks of employment with an Oklahoma employer to apply for the Back-to-Work Initiative at https://oklahoma.gov/oesc/individuals.

The agency also reports a decline in initial claims and the initial claims’ four-week moving average, with continued claims declining and the continued claims’ four-week moving average increasing.

Weekly Unemployment Numbers for Week Ending July 17:

• For the file week ending July 17, the number of initial claims totaled 4,394, a decrease of 3,393 from the previous week’s level of 7,787.
• For the same file week, the less volatile initial claims four-week moving average was 7,046, a decrease of 1,191 from the previous week’s revised average of 8,237.
• The number of continued claims totaled 37,285, a decrease of 3,030 from the previous week’s level of 40,315.
• Continued claims’ four-week moving average was 37,106, an increase of 723 from the previous week’s average of 36,383.