'We know there are jobs out there:' Missouri to end all federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits in June
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From KMBC News - JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
Gov. Mike Parson announced Tuesday that Missouri will stop participating in all six federal pandemic-related unemployment programs effective June 12 to “address workforce shortages across the state.”
“From conversations with business owners across the state, we know that they are struggling not because of COVID-19 but because of labor shortages resulting from these excessive federal unemployment programs,” Parson said in a news release.
“While these benefits provided supplementary financial assistance during the height of COVID-19, they were intended to be temporary, and their continuation has instead worsened the workforce issues we are facing. It's time that we end these programs that have ultimately incentivized people to stay out of the workforce.”
The termination announced Tuesday applies to the following programs:
In a Tuesday news conference, Parson said off the top of his head he was not sure of how many people the changes will impact, but the Missouri Department of Labor would have the information.
Gov. Mike Parson announced Tuesday that Missouri will stop participating in all six federal pandemic-related unemployment programs effective June 12 to “address workforce shortages across the state.”
“From conversations with business owners across the state, we know that they are struggling not because of COVID-19 but because of labor shortages resulting from these excessive federal unemployment programs,” Parson said in a news release.
“While these benefits provided supplementary financial assistance during the height of COVID-19, they were intended to be temporary, and their continuation has instead worsened the workforce issues we are facing. It's time that we end these programs that have ultimately incentivized people to stay out of the workforce.”
The termination announced Tuesday applies to the following programs:
- Pandemic unemployment assistance.
- Emergency unemployment relief for government entities and nonprofit organizations.
- Federal pandemic unemployment compensation.
- Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation.
- 100% reimbursement of short-time compensation benefit costs paid under state law.
- Mixed earner unemployment compensation.
In a Tuesday news conference, Parson said off the top of his head he was not sure of how many people the changes will impact, but the Missouri Department of Labor would have the information.