Unemployment Benefits: More and more people are looking for – but not getting – jobs after payments are over prematurely.

The governor argues that the payout is more generous. Includes a $300 federal weekly grant. causing workers to take leave

At least 20 places have stopped making payments. And the rest will be done by the end of July. The state must notify 30 days before the end of the benefits. This will last until early September in the states where it continues.

In addition to the $300 grant, the federal program also provides compensation to freelance translators. self-employed independent contractor and certain individuals affected by the coronavirus and those who have lost normal state benefits.

too soon to tell

It is unclear whether ending benefits early will drive people back to work.

Job search activity was slightly above the national trend in 13 states that canceled payments at the end of June or the beginning of July. But below the trend in a dozen states that ended benefits in mid-June. According to data published last week by Indeed, an online job site.

Meanwhile, Missouri’s Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development is experiencing increased traffic at its recruitment centers. Residents are looking for job search assistance and training opportunities. said the agency The plague benefits ended there on June 12.

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, a discount retail chain, said there were more applicants for stores and warehouses in states that end federal benefits, pointing to Texas and Georgia as examples.

“In states that have begun ending federal unemployment benefits We are undoubtedly seeing more and more applicants entering our stores and our distribution centers,” CEO John Swygert said at a retail conference last week. “People who still receive full unemployment benefits I think they will be a little delayed until the money runs out.”

At ZipRecruiter, the number of job applications submitted for the week ending June 19 increased between 7.6% and 15% in states that ended benefits in June. Compared to last week But it only rose 1% in states that ceased payments. In July or continuing until the beginning of September

In addition, people in states who were cutting benefits in June said they wanted to return to work a little earlier than those in states who kept working a little longer. ZipRecruiter labor economist Julia Pollak cited a survey conducted by ZipRecruiter. said job site

Even those pushing to end the benefits say it’s too early to say whether it makes a difference. Officials at the Iowa and Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the National Council of Independent Business in several southern states said their members had not reported a clear trend.

Dan Mehan, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, said: “People have to adjust to more normal ways.

“Federal unemployment benefits aren’t the only reason we’re seeing these labor restrictions,” says Indeed economist AnnElizabeth Konkel. “You can’t really mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on the labor market.”

Some laid-off employees are looking to change the industry. Find a better schedule or receive higher wages

Jerry Akers, who owns 29 Great Clips hair salon franchises in Iowa and Nebraska. Contacted some former employees about their return to work. This results in having to work evening shifts and weekends. They told him they wanted a different lifestyle and were willing to live with less money to achieve that goal.

Akers, which offers health and retirement benefits Has raised his wages by $2 an hour since the start of the pandemic. Although he accepted a large number of applicants from 60 vacancies, few accepted his job offer.

“They just aren’t ready to go back to work. They don’t care,” he said, noting that child custody remains a major concern. among other factors “I think it will take some time for it to work. This is something that we might be with for a year or maybe two.”