Utah Sees Slight Uptick In New Jobless Claims; Continued Claims Down
Mar 11, 2021, 8:56 AM
FILE (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah saw a slight uptick in new unemployment claims last week compared to the week before.
For the week ending March 6, 3,289 of the state’s residents filed for new jobless benefits. For the week prior, 3,113 people filed new claims.
However, fewer Utahns filed continued claims last week.
According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, 31,701 residents filed continued claims for the week ending March 6. For the week ending Feb. 27, 32,514 people filed continued claims.
“Weekly continued unemployment claims have decreased for five consecutive weeks, as we see Utah’s economy continue to get stronger and people successfully return to work,” said Kevin Burt, director of the Unemployment Insurance Division for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. “The federally-funded unemployment stimulus benefits were set to expire on March 13, 2021; however, it appears many of these benefits will be extended with the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.”
Utah Department of Workforce Services
DWS noted that the American Rescue Plan Act, which was passed by Congress on Wednesday, still needs to be signed by President Joe Biden.
“Once signed by the president, the bill is sent to the U.S. Department of Labor that will provide guidance to the states on the proper administration of the federal funds and programs related to unemployment benefits,” according to statement from DWS. “As the state learns more, information will be regularly posted at jobs.utah.gov/covid19.”
Nationally, about 712,000 Americans filed for new unemployment benefits. That number is the lowest it’s been since early November.
About 4.1 million Americans are currently receiving traditional unemployment benefits, the Associated Press reports, and millions more are receiving support from federal supplemental programs that were created to help the pandemic-stricken economy.
Approximately 20.1 million residents nationwide are collecting some type of aid.
If an individual’s employment has been impacted by COVID-19, they should visit jobs.utah.gov/covid19 for updated information including help for employees and employers returning to work.
