SALT LAKE CITY-Thursday, reports confirmed that the number for Utahns filing for unemployment dropped for the 7th consecutive week.

This past week, 5,455 filed for unemployment. This is significantly down from the 6,275 who filed for unemployment in the Beehive State the week of May 10-16.

Nevertheless, as The Associated Press attests in a Thursday report, the national level of unemployment is not as propitious as in Utah.

Nationally, 2.1 million people filed for unemployment last week with a total of 41 million having sought benefits since the pandemic commenced.

Last week, Utah paid $26.4 million in unemployment benefits last week, per the Unemployment Insurance Division.

Furthermore, an additional $48.8 million went to Utahns last week in federal money paid out through coronavirus aid, relief and economic security or CARES Act, the division reported.

As part of unemployment benefits, people must also file a weekly claim showing they still qualify for and need the benefits.

A net total of 9,772 people stopped filing their weekly claim on May 16 per the Unemployment Insurance Division.

Last week, Salt Lake County led Utah in claimants with 40 percent. This was followed by Utah County (15 percent), Davis County (8.4 percent), Weber County (7.7 percent) and Washington County (3.5 percent) per the release.