The unemployment rate in Warren County spiked to more than 10 percent in April, according to data recently released by the Missouri Department of Labor.

The data is the most recent available from the state, showing the impact of business closures and slowdowns related COVID-19. Warren County’s unemployment rate of 10.6 percent in April was the 19th highest for Missouri’s 114 counties and the city of St. Louis.

More than 1,700 people in Warren County filed initial claims for unemployment benefits in April, according to the Department of Labor. That’s a massive climb from February, when there were only 94 initial claims for unemployment benefits, and an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent.

Early signs of the wave of unemployment claims began in March, when businesses and governments in the St. Louis region began taking action to limit the local spread of COVID-19. In that month, the Warren County unemployment rate was recorded at 4.3 percent, with over 1,100 initial claims for benefits.

Neighboring Lincoln County showed an unemployment rate of 12.4 percent in April’s data. Franklin County had 10.7 percent unemployment, St. Charles County 9.6 percent, and Montgomery County 8 percent.

Statewide, almost 286,000 people filed for unemployment in April, with an unemployment rate of 9.8 percent.

Statewide data shows the “accommodation and food service” sector as the largest source of unemployment claims. The sectors with highest unemployment after that are manufacturing, retail, and healthcare/social services.

The age category with highest statewide unemployment in April was people 25 to 34 years old.

The local Missouri Job Center, run by Boonslick Regional Planning Commission in Warrenton, has taken more than 4,700 calls since the beginning of March, said Executive Director Chad Eggen.

Many of the people reaching out have matched the struggling industries identified by the state. Eggen said prior employment in medical offices, food service, hair salons and casinos have been common among the people coming to the Job Center for help finding new employment or signing up for unemployment benefits.

Some of those people have been filing for an additional $600 per week in special unemployment assistance available during the pandemic. The federal program providing that benefit will last another three months, Eggen said.

One of the challenges for the Job Center has been finding ways to communicate to the unemployed about assistance or opportunities that are available.

“We have been innovative to consider drive-through job fairs, virtual job fairs, and of course offering online training assistance and opportunities for education (and) certificate programs,” Eggen said.

Boonslick, which assists with regional economic and community development, is currently working on projects to aid area businesses, Eggen added.

Meanwhile, a state initiative to get job seekers back to work or trained for new employment can be accessed online by going to jobs.mo.gov/return-strong.

Northeast Community Action Corporation (NECAC) regularly assists with rent and utilities for low-income families. At the beginning of June, the organization said the spike in unemployment increased the amount the agency is paying for rent assistance. Because of that, a hold was put on new applications for housing assistance.

“We’re still helping with the people who are currently on housing with us,” said Service Coordinator Desiree Antoniou. She said NECAC also helps with utility bills and other needs, and has a “skill up” program that helps clients get placed with new jobs.

“We’ve been helping out as much as we possibly can,” Antoniou said. “If we can’t help, we refer them to someone who can.”

She said NECAC hopes the housing assistance program will open to new clients again soon, but doesn’t know when that may happen.

Part of the unemployment number in Warren County is due to local businesses closing their doors or reducing operations due to COVID-19.

Wright City Area Chamber of Commerce President Kim Arbuthnot said at least one member business is closed indefinitely, but that others have gotten their employees back to work after having closed in April. She said most of the restaurants in the area are operating in a reduced capacity.

Arbuthnot said Chamber members have discussed taking advantage of government aid to stay open and keep providing paychecks.

“Many restaurants and hair salons did express their disappointment with the first round of aid that went to many ‘big’ businesses,” Arbuthnot commented. “One business owner was without income for almost two months and relied on any savings that she had to keep her afloat.”

With restrictions on non-essential businesses starting to roll back in May, it’s possible job prospects have already been improving for area workers. It will be several more weeks before the Department of Labor publishes its unemployment data for May.