As businesses shutter or scale back operations, by next month the pandemic’s effects could cost more than 100,000 Granite Staters their jobs, at least temporarily, according to Laconia economist Russ Thibeault.

“I think we’re looking at an unemployment rate of 15 to 20 percent by the end of April,” Thibeault told the New Hampshire Union Leader on Monday.

About 34,000 Granite Staters registered with New Hampshire Employment Security between March 17 and Monday, Commissioner George Copadis said Monday evening. The department’s call centers also received 10,000 calls.

Copadis said the U.S. Department of Labor prevents him from releasing the actual number of people filing for initial unemployment benefits. He said some first-time registrants could have filed for another

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