Gov. Brian Kemp is planning to end enhanced unemployment benefits from the federal government. As of June 26, the maximum weekly benefit will be cut by $300. Georgia is one of 17 states to stop federal benefits designed to help out-of-work residents during the pandemic. Ray Khalfani with the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute says many of the openings are in low wage jobs and some workers are choosing to protect their health during an ongoing pandemic. GPB’s Ellen Eldridge reports.
Caption Gov. Brian Kemp is planning to end enhanced unemployment benefits from the federal government. As of June 26, the maximum weekly benefit will be cut by $300.
Kemp: Georgia to cut jobless benefits to push people to work
By JEFF AMYMay 13, 2021 GMT
ATLANTA (AP) Georgia is cutting off federal unemployment programs that provide a $300-a-week boost to people on the jobless rolls, as well as programs that pay federal money to people not usually eligible for state unemployment or who have been on jobless aid for longer than the state provides, a move that could reduce incomes of 250,000 jobless Georgians.
Gov. Brian Kemp and Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced the decision Thursday to quit the programs as of June 26. Both of the elected Republicans had indicated worker-hungry employers are demanding that the state do more to force people into the workforce.
Reply Georgians deserve to get back to normal, Gov. Brian Kemp said as he announced the end to additional $300 unemployment payments in June. (Photo by Megan Varner | Getty Images)
ATLANTA Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday announced that he would be suspending federal enhanced unemployment benefits for out-of-work Georgians.
In June, the additional $300 per week added to individual state unemployment payments provided by President Joe Biden s American Rescue Plan will be cut off.
Kemp said in a statement that business recovery from the shutdowns of the pandemic was strong and this decision was made with the goal of helping to jumpstart employment in the state.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs available in Georgia but not enough applicants to fill them
The Georgia Department of Labor says companies are struggling to fill thousands of opens jobs.
ATLANTA - There are hundreds of thousands of job openings in Georgia, but companies are struggling to fill them.
The Georgia Department of Labor s Employ Georgia website shows there are more than 240,000 job listings, more than 12,500 were added Thursday.
Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said this could mean more than half a million jobs are up for grabs on the website since each listing can be for more than one position.
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