A new bill in the North Carolina General Assembly aims to fix all the help wanted signs around the state.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Across the Triad right now, Indeed shows there are about 40,000 open jobs, and leading Republicans at the state capital say they know why. "We believe the way to get folks back to work primarily is by ending some of the things we've seen coming from the federal government," said Lt. Governor Mark Robinson.
He's talking about the extra $300 per week in unemployment benefits the federal government is giving now through September. President Joe Biden's administration says there are more complicated factors keeping people out of the workforce... Some are still concerned about Covid-19 and others struggling to find childcare.
Digging deeper into those open jobs across the Triad on Indeed: about
half of them pay more than someone could earn on unemployment with
the federal supplement. When asked about that, North Carolina Senate
Republicans say the bottom line is that people need motivation to go
back to work.
"I'm not going to analyze the precise cause
and effect, but let's face it, it is easier to not work than it is
to work," said Senator Chuck Edwards.
23 other states plan
to phase out the extra federal benefits by the middle of July. In
North Carolina, Republican lawmakers are proposing keeping those
benefits but offering a bonus if people go back to work sooner
rather than later. $1,500 for those going back in the next 30 days,
and $800 within 60 days.
"The great thing about this plan
is no one would get cut off if there really was a reason for them to
be on unemployment," Edwards said. "But we would be offering an
incentive for folks to go ahead and go back to work sooner rather
than later."
Republicans hope to get this bill to the
Governor's desk as soon as possible.
