The State of Utah received more than 33,000 new unemployment claims last week as residents continue to endure the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, Utahns filed 33,076 unemployment claims between March 29 and April 4. The state paid $6,881,153 in unemployment benefits that week.
“We continue to receive new claims at an unprecedented level,” said Kevin Burt, Unemployment Insurance Division director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services in a news release sent to FOX 13.
The industries that saw the highest percentage of unemployment claims were office and administrative support, sales and related occupations, and personal care and service, according to data from DWS.
Utah has received a record volume of unemployment claims in the past month, due to layoffs and an abrupt halt of much of the economy to mitigate the spread of the viral contagion.
Utah is one of the first states to make a $600 stimulus payment available to unemployment claimants, the news release said.
"Additionally, the application for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance making benefits available for self-employed individuals and others who aren't eligible for traditional unemployment benefits will be available at jobs.utah.gov beginning early next week," the news release said.