Unemployment claims increase in South Dakota

Unemployment claims show a significant jump in South Dakota last week.

During the week of May 3-9, a total of 5,131 initial weekly claims for unemployment benefits were processed by the Department of Labor and Regulation. This is an increase of 1,202 claims over the prior week’s total of 3929.

A total of $5.3 million was paid out in state benefits, in addition to $13.3 million paid out in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefits.

The latest number of continued claims is 23,719 for the week ending April 25. This indicates the number of unemployed workers eligible for and receiving benefits after their initial claim.

Labor and Regulation Secretary Marcia Hultman says many employers are starting to recall workers, but if you are permanently without employment due to the coronavirus outbreak,they have help available. She says the Department of Labor has a wide variety of training and education programs to help eligible individuals work towards a career in a high-demand, high-wage occupation.