AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – Dozens of Texas businesses say the federal unemployment benefit is contributing to a labor shortage, and are calling on Governor Greg Abbott to step in.
America is getting back to work as COVID cases drop and more people are vaccinated. But, a number of industry’s are struggling to find employees to come to work. Senator John Cornyn and more than 30 Texas business groups worry that the $300 federal unemployment benefit combined with state unemployment is disincentivizing some Americans from working.
“I never want to be in a position of paying people more not to work than to work,” Senator Cornyn said. “And our economy needs people to come back to work safely which they can do now after they’ve received the vaccine.”
The Texas business Association is calling on Governor Abbott to reject the $300 federal dollars to unemployed Texans. Governor from 16 states have cut the federal benefit. A letter from 37 business organizations asks Governor Abbott and Bryan Daniel, Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission, to address the critical labor shortage by also promoting job opportunities in the state and the search-for-work requirement, and exploring additional steps Texas can take to support workers reentering the job market and their families.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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