STATION EDITORIAL
Posted May 13, 2021
This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president. The May 7th U-S employment report showing only 266-thousand jobs were filled in April in the country, is a great example of "cause and effect."
The Wall Street Journal in its May 7th story, said and I'm quoting: "These numbers are consistent with the story many business leaders are telling, of severe labor shortages — that demand has surged back but employers cannot find enough workers to fulfill it, at least not at the wages they are accustomed to paying." end of quote.
The article continues, and I quote: "Many employers and conservatives argue that the expanded federal unemployment benefits have been too generous as they were extended as part of the recent pandemic rescue aid package and are scheduled to expire in September." end of quote.
Several states have announced they will end the 300-dollar per week unemployment benefit supplement being added to state unemployment benefits. Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Montana, South Carolina, Iowa, and Missouri will end the weekly $300 federal unemployment benefits for their residents.
And, the U-S Chamber of Commerce asked the Biden Administration to immediately end the 300-dollar weekly unemployment benefit supplement.
The May 7th jobs report is not what the Biden Administration or the ecoonomy needed. The Wall Street Journal says the economy is still short some 8-point-2 million jobs from its pre-pandemic level.
Many local employers I've visited with, especially in the food and hospitality industry, have shared with me that their employees have told them they won't come back until the $300 per week supplemental benefits end, because they're making more money staying at home than if they would work.
This does not have a happy ending for anyone....local businesses struggling to get back to normal following a devestating 2020, factories trying to fill an avalanche of orders as consumers are spending again, and most importantly, the economy of our local communities trying to get to normal.
That's our opinion, we welcome yours. Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.
