North Dakota on Monday announced it will terminate its participation in the federal government’s unemployment assistance programs next month as it hopes to incentivize more residents to return to work amid a labor shortage.
Gooch asks Kemp to end federal unemployment reliefNews, State & National
May 10, 2021
, by Lauren Souther
ATLANTA – Majority Whip and State Senator Steve Gooch (R-51) has asked Governor Brian Kemp (R) to halt the federal unemployment relief in Georgia.
In a letter sent to Kemp’s desk today, Gooch details how many small businesses are struggling to find people to work. Many restaurants can’t fully open because they don’t have the staff.
“While we are still recovering from the economic impact of the pandemic, local business owners are desperate for employees – not customers. Every job creator agrees that this workforce shortage is a direct result of the federal expanded unemployment benefits, where employees are incentivized to stay home and collect government checks that often exceed what they would earn at the job site. This labor shortage has caused many restaurants to alter their hours of operation and is having an oversized impact on the supply chain of every sect
Alabama to End Federal Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Amid Labor Shortage
Alabama has joined a growing list of GOP-led states that are ending participation in federal pandemic-related unemployment programs amid concerns that the benefits are leading to a shortage in people looking for work.
Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, cited an increase in job postings along with complaints from businesses saying they can’t find workers to hire for her decision to withdraw from the programs. The governor flagged the unemployment benefits boost, which was approved last March under the CARES Act before it was extended, as contributing to the labor shortage.