4,996 Utahns Applied For New Jobless Claims; Trend Continues Downward
Jun 4, 2020, 9:39 AM
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A total of 4,996 Utahns filed new jobless claims for the week ending May 30, according to the latest report from the Utah Department of Workforce Services.
During the same week, 1,561 residents filed for new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which is provided to those who don’t meet regular unemployment benefits criteria.
For the week ending May 23, there were 5,455 new jobless claims and 2,278 new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims.
“For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the number of new weekly claims fell just below the state’s previous record high of 5,300 claims in 2013,” said Kevin Burt, Unemployment Insurance Division director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. “The consistent decreases continue to be encouraging. With restrictions lifting, and economic activity gradually returning, it is important to remember these benefits are temporary and refusals to return to work will result in a loss of benefits for most who are not determined to be at high risk for the illness.”
Nationally, 1.9 million more Americans sought jobless benefits last week, marking the ninth straight decline since applications spiked in mid-March.
Utah Dept. of Workforce Services Press Conference
LIVE: Unemployment Insurance Division Director of Utah Dpt. of Workforce Services goes over latest jobless claims in state
Posted by KSL 5 TV on Thursday, June 4, 2020