WASHINGTON (WBAP/KLIF News) – The number of Americans filing for first-time jobless aid hit a new pandemic low.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor report, 473,000 Americans filed for benefits. That’s down 34,000 from the revised 507,000 count the previous week.
The Associated Press reports the claims have fallen dramatically from a peak of 900,000 in January.
Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims
Initial claims were 473,000 for the week ending 5/8 (-34,000).
Insured unemployment was 3,655,000 for the week ending 5/1 (-45,000).https://t.co/ys7Eg5LKAW
— US Labor Department (@USDOL) May 13, 2021
Employers nationwide have been singing a different tune about the workforce of late.
Instead of cutting jobs, many business owners said they’re struggling to hire enough workers due to several reasons including health-related fears due to COVID-19, competition with enhanced unemployment benefits and access to childcare for women in the workforce.
The Texas Restaurant Association said it’s dealing with this new reality first hand.
The TRA’s Anna Tauzin said many restaurateurs are in desperate need of employees.
“The shortage is really so bad that it’s truly delaying the hospitality industry’s recovery. So, restaurants even though in Texas they’re open at technically 100%, they’re not able to hire enough people to fill and help service the restaurant and service those customers,” she said.
Tauzin encourages Texans needing work to utilize the Texas Workforce Commission’s website to see who is hiring.
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