President Biden insisted on Friday that the dismal employment growth is not the result of a federal unemployment insurance supplement – even though business owners say they can’t get enough workers to come back.
The US added just 266,000 new jobs in April – down from the COVID-19 epidemic of the economy’s rebellion of about 1 million.
Republicans and trade groups blame the $ 300 weekly federal subsidy that runs through Sept 6, which allows some low-paid workers to stay indoors more money than returning to work.
But Biden said the jobs figures actually show “more help is needed” through “$ 4 trillion infrastructure” and “families” proposals and denies recession because subsidies that he signed into law in March Were.
In the White House, Biden said, “Today’s report refutes to say that Americans just don’t want to work”.
“I know that some employers are having trouble filling jobs. But this report shows that there is a very big problem – despite the comment you may have heard this morning. It is that our economy still has 8 million fewer jobs than when this epidemic started. Data shows that more workers – more workers – are looking for jobs and many cannot find them. “
Biden said that his own father was in emotional turmoil when he did not have a job, and believed that some middle class people would be unemployed.
“The idea that they don’t want to work?” Most middle-class, working-class people that I know the way my dad did… a job is a lot more than a salary, he would say, ‘Joy, this is your honor, your dignity, your place in the community. Is about , ” Said Biden.
A reporter asked Biden: “Do you believe that returning to work in some categories has led to a reduction in unemployment benefits?”
The President replied, “No, nothing is measurable.”
“I don’t think the major factor is excess unemployment,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at a White House press conference.
“There is no question that we are hearing from businesses that they are having difficulty hiring workers,” Yellen said.
But Yellen argued that there is no data-seeking job with states with low leniency unemployment benefits.
“If it were really additional benefits that were put back on hiring, you’d expect to see that either in the states, or in the workforce, or in areas where the replacement rate on the UI is much higher than you’d expect. Will look for lower job search rates, and exactly what you are seeing is exactly the opposite.
White House press secretary Jane Saki argued that the rules governing unemployment payments meant people could choose not to sit on the couch and collect checks instead of work – even temporarily more loosely. Even under the Cove-19 rules.
“To receive any type of unemployment benefit, claimants must be available and work actively, and workers are not allowed to refuse suitable work and receive benefits,” said Saki. “This is all true, including the Epidemic UI program. If you are sick with COVID, you are only allowed to refuse work and receive benefits if you are cared for by someone who is sick with COVID or is offered a job in an unsafe workplace. “
At least two states – Montana and South Carolina – plan to phase out long-standing pandemic unemployment benefits due to widespread antenatal reports from business owners unable to reclaim their former workforce. is.
A University of Chicago study found that 42 percent People claiming unemployment insurance earn more through government investigations, as they did in their former jobs, not counting health insurance assistance that helps the unemployed.
The US Chamber of Commerce, which separately found that about 25 percent of people are not working, on Friday blamed a $ 300 supplement to the jobs slowdown.
“Disappointing jobs report makes it clear that paying people for not working should have a strong employment market.” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley. “One step policymakers should now eliminate the $ 300 weekly supplemental unemployment benefit.”
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