Since the coronavirus pandemic hit in mid-March, at least 150,00 Utahns have filed for unemployment benefits.
Across the nation, 30.3 million Americans have been laid off or furloughed according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That’s after 3.8 million Americans applied for benefits last week alone.
But if you’re looking for a job in Utah, there’s good news.
Right now there are about 20,000 jobs listed on jobs.utah.gov website, said Christina Davis, strategic communication manager for the Department of Workforce Services. Many of those are in health care, retail and food service industries.
Large chain restaurants have many open positions. McDonald’s has 450 open slots; Walmart has 400 and Pizza Hut and Dominos have 350 and 300, respectively.
Associated Food Stores has 90 retail jobs inside the Macey’s, Dan’s, Dick’s, Lin’s and Fresh Market stores it operates, communications manager Sarah Pettit wrote in an email. It also is hiring 25 order selectors and 10 truck drivers at its distribution center in Weber County.
“We have seen the biggest increase in hiring and labor demand at the Farr West Distribution Center,” Pettit explained. “Our hiring at the warehouse increased 93% over the same time period last year.”
Smiths Food & Drug Stores has more than 300 job openings in its Utah stores including cashiers, e-commerce, courtesy clerks, service deli and freight, according to corporate affairs manager Aubriana Martindale. That’s in addition to the people who have already been hired in recent weeks.
“Since the pandemic,” she said in an email, “we have been able to welcome 4,000 associates to our Smith’s team.”
The average wage for Kroger — Smith’s parent company — is $15 an hour plus benefits, Martindale said.
Walmart also is hiring for 400 positions, including cashiers, drivers, stockers and personal shoppers — for grocery pickup and delivery services. And it needs more fillers and pickers at its distribution and fulfillment centers, said Casey Staheli, senior manager for national media relations.
Staheli said that last month Walmart committed to hiring 150,000 new associates nationwide — including 1,700 in Utah — by the end of May and recently hit its goal.
The company recently committed to hiring an additional 50,000 new associates nationwide, and reached its goal Thursday.
“Not only has the company helped provide work for almost a quarter million people impacted by COVID-19,” said a press release, “they did so in less than six weeks.”
Thursday, Walmart associates in Utah also got a bonus in their paychecks, adding up to a total of $2.1 million statewide, and $180 million nationwide. Combined with the $365 million announced earlier this month, the company has provided almost $550 million in bonuses to its employees.
Staheli said the company still has both temporary and permanent positions with an $11 per hour starting wage — depending on location. Starting pay at distribution centers is higher, between $17 and $18 per hour. Walmart’s average pay in Utah is $14.66 per hour.
The company is also providing options to staff members who are unable to work due to COVID-19.
“We have expanded our COVID-19 emergency leave policy for associates who are unable or uncomfortable to work so they may choose to stay at home without needing to worry about violating our attendance policy” said Staheli in an email. “Associates only need to follow our usual call-in process, and can use paid time off options to be paid for any missed shifts.”
Natural Grocers has hired more than 700 temporary staff in stores across the country since mid-March called “good4u Crew members” to help with the stocking and cleaning of the stores, said director of public relations Pamela Lipshitz in an email.
The company also gave staff a temporary $2 per hour pay increase through May 3 and crew members will have a permanent $1 per hour pay increase.
Harmons, Costco and Sam’s Club also are hiring, according to their websites. So are these nonfood related companies including:
University of Utah • 700 open positions
University of Utah Health • 300 open positions
Intermountain Healthcare • 350 open positions
DOCS • 600 open positions
AutoZone, Inc. • 550 open positions
Northrop Grumman • 500 open positions
Home Depot • 300 open positions
Humana • 350 open positions
Correction: 9 a.m., May 1, 2020. This story has been updated to include correct national job figures for Natural Grocers and Intermountain Health Care.
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