SALT LAKE CITY — There is still a high demand for unemployment benefits in Utah as the coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of letting up.
The Utah Dept. of Workforce Services released the numbers from the week of Nov. 8-14 Thursday.
READ: 742,000 Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, the first increase in 5 weeks
The number of total new claims filed for unemployment benefits in Utah was 4,617 for the week, with a total of $9,905,635 of benefits paid. There were 28,168 continued claims filed during that same week.
The number of individuals who have not requested a benefit for two consecutive weeks as of Nov. 7, 2020, was 3,264. A total of 3,331 met the same criteria during the previous week.
“A high demand for the unemployment benefit persists as new claims have increased for two consecutive weeks; it is critical to note that we were and are expecting a seasonal increase in claims during the winter months,” said Kevin Burt, Unemployment Insurance Division director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. “In more promising data, we have seen a decrease in continued or ongoing claims for 28 consecutive weeks as Utah’s economy continues to gradually recover during this difficult pandemic.”
If an individual's employment has been impacted by COVID-19, they should visit this site for updated information including help for employees and employers returning to work.