Utah Unemployment Claims Slow, But Remain At Record Levels

Utah’s unemployment claims slowed again last week but remained at unprecedented levels as jobless residents received a combined $78.6 million in state and federal funds. New figures released Thursday showed about 7,000 people claimed unemployment, a 21% decline from the previous week and far less than the pandemic peak of 33,000 claims in a single week. The decrease came after Republican Gov. Gary Herbert allowed some businesses to reopen, easing restrictions aimed at keeping the coronavirus at bay. Still, the claims filed each of the past eight weeks were more than any single week on record, including during the height of the Great Recession.