"No uptick in employment" in states ending pandemic benefits

"No uptick in employment" in states ending pandemic benefits

Saturday, Jul 24 2021
Laura Belin

Census survey data indicates that there was “no uptick in employment” in the twelve states that cut residents off from federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits in mid-June. However, residents of those states were more likely to report it was “somewhat difficult” or “very difficult” to pay for usual household expenses, compared to surveys conducted before the unemployment programs ended.

Arindrajit Dube, an economics professor at UMass Amherst, published his findings on July 18.

Iowa was among the first four states that ended their participation in federal unemployment programs created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Kim Reynolds claimed the extra benefits were “discouraging people from returning to work.” Business lobby groups and many GOP elected officials cheered her decision. Tens of thousands of Iowans had been collecting benefits totaling more than $30 million per week through the three federal programs that became unavailable on June 12.

The chief economist for the online jobs site Indeed reported in late June that in “the share of national job search activity” was “below the late April baseline” in twelve states that pulled out of the pandemic unemployment programs on June 12 or June 19. That analysis was based on “clicks on job postings,” not individual reports on their circumstances.

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more: https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2021/07/24/no-uptick-in-employment-in-states-ending-pandemic-benefits/