Unemployment numbers in Rochester

The numbers are astounding... but how do they translate in Rochester?

News 3./// thank you the numbers are astounding.

More than two million americans filed for unemployment benefits last week.

All told more than 40?

"*million have filed for first?

"*time unemployment benefits since the u?

"*s econoy shut down for the pandemic.

But could that be changing as more businesses start to re?

"* open?

Kimt news three's raquel hellman is finding out.

She joins us now live in rochester ?

"* raquel?xxx in just a few days ?

"* restaurants across minnesota will be able to reopen for outdoor seating ?

"* like this.

Salons will also be able to open their doors.

So does that mean the unemployment rate will go down?

Not necessarily.

I talked with ryan nolander ?

*- the president of the rochester area economic development.

He tells me that here in the med city ?

"* the most recent data from april shows the unemployment rate is sitting at six?

"*point?

"* nine percen while that's way up from february and march ?

"* it's still well below the state and national rate.

You would think that with more businesses reopening next week ?

"* that rate may go down.

But that's not necessarily true ?

"* becaue many people are getting an additional 600 dollars a week in unemployment benefits because of the pandemic.xxx there might be some people that are holding out just because they can stay at home and make as much money as they were making at their job, and so that's going to be a unique little balance we gotta go through.

That extra 600 dollars a week is set to expire at the end of july ?

"* o he says after that is when we may end up seeing more people looking for and going back to work.

Live in rochester, raquel hellman, kimt news three./// our team coverage of chaos unfolding