Almost 81,000 people filed for unemployment last week, the Alabama Department of Labor announced today.

According to preliminary figures, 80,984 Alabamians filed for unemployment compensation for the week ending March 28.

This latest number, the largest to date since the business closures prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, shows its effect on Alabama’s economy. The previous week, just as sheltering restrictions came into place, 10,892 people filed for unemployment. For the week ending March 14, before any measures were enacted, it was only 1,824.

In February, Alabama recorded a 2.7 percent unemployment rate, the best ever and the third straight month at that mark.

Looking at individual county totals, Jefferson County saw a jump from 2,301 claims for the week ending March 21, to 13,603 a week later. Shelby jumped from 448 to 2,439. Baldwin County went from 503 to 4,683. Tuscaloosa shot from 586 to 5,458.

Madison County had 6,370 apply last week, up from 1,080 the previous week, while Montgomery saw 3,928 claims, up from 523.

Among individual categories statewide, the effects were evident on major industries in state. Accommodation and food service workers had 17,632 claims, while manufacturing had 11,486 filings. Health care and social assistance tallied 7,324 claims.

The highest unemployment rate the state ever recorded was in October, November and December of 2009, the height of the Great Recession, when it was 11.8 percent. In October of that year, 227,000 Alabamians were unemployed.

Meanwhile, preliminary figures show 66,638 Alabamians filed for unemployment this week through Wednesday, according to the state Labor Department.