More New Yorkers were able to file for unemployment insurance with the state Department of Labor, representing a flood of claims amid an economic shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Department of Labor on Thursday announced 369,025 unemployment claims were filed for the week that ended March 28. That is an increase from the previous week, when 80,516 claims were filed. 

State officials have sought to streamline the application process amid the torrent of phone calls and website visits to file a claim. The Department of Labor is adding more people to answer phone calls and more servers for the increased traffic.

Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon also filmed a public service announcement to highlight the changes.

“We know that businesses across the Empire State are bearing the brunt of this developing economic crisis, and that means hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers’ livelihoods are at risk. But we have a resilient workforce in New York State and that will not be diminished,” Reardon said. “The keys to the success of our economy and job market are our forward-thinking employers and the hardworking men and women who make up our workforce."

Labor markets with the largest over-the-year percent increases in jobless claims including Long Island, western New York, the Hudson Valley and the Albany area. The shutdown has hit the service industry the hardest as restaurants and bars close and large events are banned. State officials are asking people to call on days based on their last names.

For people whose last names begin with A through F, call on Monday, G through N on Tuesday and O-Z on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are reserved for people who miss those days. 

The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday reported more than 6.6 million jobless claims were made nationally last week.