PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – A total of 5,389 South Dakotans filed their first weekly claim for unemployment benefits last week (April 19-25).

State Sec. of Labor and Regulation Marcia Hultman says it was only 94 claims over the prior week’s total (5,295).

Hultman says as of April 11, over 19,500 (19,664) continued claims by have been filed by unemployed workers.

She reminds claimants they must go back to work if called by their employer or there may be an impact on their benefits.

Hultman encourages employers and employees to work together to ensure working conditions are safe and employees are comfortable when they return.

A total of $5.1 million was paid out in state benefits, in addition to $11.6 million paid out in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefits. The Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund balance April 26 was $109.1 million.