Jobless claims dropped only slightly last week, and unemployment is fairly low at 4.3%. But that might feel different, depending on where you live.
No more gig worker and self-employed benefits, no more extra $300 a week and no more extended aid for the long-term unemployed.
Many states ended pandemic-related federal unemployment programs early, but there’s no evidence it sent more people back to work.
In Tennessee, the governor says everyone should be able to find a job that’s a good fit. Workers say it’s not that simple.
Four states have now shut off the extra $300 per week in federal unemployment benefits.
The economy is steadily improving, but we’re not back to “normal.”
Republican governors say the added federal benefits are discouraging people from taking jobs.
The Republican governors of Arkansas, Montana and South Carolina say the benefits keep people out of the workforce.
Making the unemployment system a federal program could help reduce some of the huge racial disparities that currently exist.
When tens of millions of workers were laid off and applied for benefits in the spring, the system crashed. Here are some ideas for making it work better.
