The state says it will stop offering federal unemployment benefits starting at the end of June.
Since the pandemic began, the federal government has offered additional unemployment compensation beyond the state allotted 26 weeks. The feds also issue additional $300 weekly payments to those on unemployment. The state is also opting out of federal benefits given to self-employed individuals.
Marcia Hultman is the secretary of the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation.
She says the state has a lack of workers. There are more jobs than people looking for work.
“We have about 23,000 open jobs, which is a record high,” Hultman says. “A huge number of job openings. There are about 3,500 individuals that are still collecting unemployment. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone who is unemployed gets an unemployment benefit.”
Hultman says there are about 10,000 workforce-eligible individuals who are not on unemployment.
To date, the state has doled out about $375 million since the pandemic began. Hultman says the state did that without dipping into its unemployment trust fund, thanks to federal help.
State tourism officials say temporary work visas are slow to roll out this year. Foreign workers help alleviate workforce needs during the summer months.