More than 90,000 New Mexicans file unemployment

More than 90,000 New Mexicans have filed initial unemployment claims over the past four weeks.

According to unofficial numbers released Friday by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, 20,085 more New Mexico residents filed for unemployment April 3-9.

They join more than 70,000 people who have filed such claims in the past three weeks, since the spread of the new coronavirus began to prompt widespread business closures in New Mexico.

On Monday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham extended the in-person business closure order through at least the end of April, and expanded it to include payday lenders, liquor stores and other specialty shops. The order also mandated that businesses allowed to remain open must limit the number of customers inside to 20% of their maximum occupancy.

The new state numbers also showed 62,136 weekly unemployment certifications on Friday, a figure that includes people currently receiving benefits, as well as those currently in the system and awaiting determination.

Additionally, the state workforce agency provided a breakdown of unemployment claims by county through April 4.

Curry County had 14 unemployment claims from March 7 through March 14. It had 871 claims from March 21 through April 4.

Roosevelt County had 27 claims from March 7 through March 14. It had 409 from March 21 through April 4.

The Albuquerque Journal contributed to this report.