Utah to end $300 federal pandemic unemployment benefit

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah will terminate its participation in the federal government’s pandemic-related unemployment assistance program.

Utah is the latest of several states ending the $300 federal benefit paid on top of state benefits.

Gov. Spencer Cox said Wednesday those extra federal benefits will end in Utah on June 26.

Approximately 28,000 Utah residents are receiving the $300 benefit, and $12.4 million is being paid out by the federal government each week.

Utah has one of the nation's lowest unemployment rates of 2.9%.

The Department of Workforce Services says there are at least 50,000 job openings in the state.