South Dakota Labor Department says state unemployment fund continues to deteriorate
By APTuesday, January 19, 2010
South Dakota unemployment fund still deteriorating
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Labor Secretary Pam Roberts says unemployment benefits paid out last week were at an all-time high of $2.7 million to about 8,800 people.
The state’s unemployment fund has been deteriorating during the economic recession. Roberts says officials were hoping that things were starting to improve, until last week. She says a surcharge paid by employers that began last October and was expected to end by July might now continue into next year.
Last fall, the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council predicted the annual payout in benefits for 2010 would decrease from the record levels paid in 2009. The Labor Department says that based on the first two weeks of the year, this year’s amount might equal the $65 million paid in 2009.
