The NPR Politics Podcast Cutting Unemployment Aid Didn't Get Many Unemployed Americans Back To Work
Sep 7, 2021
Millions of Americans lost expanded unemployment assistance just as the delta variant hinders economic recovery. Studies reveal that cutting benefits does little to boost employment and may actually hurt consumer spending. Surprisingly, states that retained these benefits experienced quicker job growth. The hosts also discuss how unemployment trends are influencing political approval ratings and the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19, leaving listeners craving a bit of good news in these tough times.
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End of Pandemic Unemployment Benefits
- Millions of U.S. workers lost pandemic unemployment benefits on Labor Day, September 7, 2021.
- These benefits included extended eligibility, longer durations, and additional weekly payments.
Impact on Individuals
- A Kate from Brooklyn, NY, expressed feeling close to despair due to the benefit cuts.
- David Toms, an educator, felt that returning to work for less pay than his college job wasn't worth risking his life.
Disappointing Jobs Report
- August 2021's jobs report was disappointing, with only 235,000 jobs created.
- Pandemic-sensitive industries like restaurants saw job losses due to the Delta variant surge.