PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – During the week of May 31 through June 6, a total of 817 initial weekly claims for state unemployment benefits were processed by the Department of Labor and Regulation. This is a decrease of 681 claims from the prior week’s total of 1,498.

A total of $4.9 million was paid out in state benefits, in addition to $13.1 million paid out in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, $894,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and $46,000 in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits. The Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund balance June 7 was $98.8 million.

The latest number of continued claims is 19,629 for the week ending May 23. This indicates the number of unemployed workers eligible for and receiving benefits after their initial claim.

Labor and Regulation Secretary Marcia Hultman says there are over 19,000 job openings currently listed on the SDWORKS jobs database, back to pre-pandemic levels. She says if you’re unsure if you’ll be recalled back to work, the listings provide an opportunity to consider a new career. Hultman says DLR has education and training opportunities to help get you started on a new career path.