Ohio reported 272,117 initial claims for unemployment compensation last week, according to information from the Department of Job and Family Services. The number of claims filed was an all-time high for Ohio for the second consecutive week. The state has received 468,414 claims over the two-week period. Over that short span, the state has issued more than $45 million in unemployment payments to more than 108,000 workers. Nationwide, total non-farm payroll employment fell by 701,000 in March, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported April 3. For the month, U.S. manufacturing employment edged down by 18,000 jobs. 4/3/2020