The number of Hoosiers filing new applications for unemployment benefits dropped slightly last week, to 26,000. But since mid-March, over 700,000 workers have now applied for unemployment.

More than 1 in 4 workers experienced unemployment last month in several Indiana counties. Data released Tuesday from the Department of Workforce Development shows which areas of the state were hit hardest.

The Indiana jobless rate was higher than the 14.7 percent national rate. April's mark was much worse than the state's peak unemployment rate of 11 percent in 2010 during the last recession, according to federal statistics released Friday.

A diverse group of community members spoke at a digital town hall Thursday night, held by Faith in Indiana. Much of the discussion was focused on a need for more government assistance in the face of COVID-19.

The agency says it has greatly increased its capacity to resolve more issues through automation and increased staffing. However, a single claim could have multiple issues that prevent it from being resolved.

The Department of Workforce Development is advising workers worried about returning to work to talk with their employer about how to do that safely.

About 57,000 Hoosiers were among the 3.8 million Americans who filed to receive unemployment benefits last week according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Roughly 75,000 Hoosiers were among the more than 4.4 million Americans who filled out an application for unemployment benefits last week.

Those jobs include everyone from solar panel installers to heating and air conditioning technicians to people who make electric vehicle engines.

Across the country, almost 17 million workers filed for unemployment benefits in the last three weeks due to COVID-19. That includes more than 300,000 people from Indiana.