The Maine Department of Labor says a total of about 21,000 first-time unemployment claims were filed last week, down from 26,600 the week before.

About 11,500 of those claims were filed under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

Maine’s labor department began accepting applications under the federal program on May 1.

The program extended benefits to self-employed Mainers and independent contractors.

Approximately 87,000 continued claims were filed last week.

The labor department says 140,000 Mainers have lost their jobs since March.