SALT LAKE CITY (AP) —Unemployment claims inched back up in Utah last week after eight consecutive weeks of declines as the state experiences a spike in coronavirus cases following the reopening last month of many businesses, show figures released Thursday.
Nearly 5,500 people requested unemployment assistance in the week ending June 6 — a 9% increase from the previous week. That’s down from a pandemic peak of 33,000 in early April but 449% higher than the same time last year.
As of May 30, about 78,000 total people in Utah were receiving unemployment benefits. That represents 5.3% of all eligible employees in the state.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced countless businesses to shut down or lay off workers. Since March 14, Utah has received about 175,000 claims for unemployment. That represents nearly 12% of the total workforce of Utah that is eligible for the unemployment insurance program.
Utah state officials began allowing some businesses to reopen May 1 and further loosened restrictions in the middle of the month. Over the last several weeks, the state has seen a major jump in daily coronavirus cases as health officials urge people to maintain social distancing and exercise caution.
The state has paid out nearly $199 million in state funds while doling out an additional $333 million in federal stimulus funds, state figures show.
