Job Market Monitor
unemployment benefits
Texas / To Drug Test Some Unemployment Applicants
With Republican Gov. Rick Perry’s signature Friday, a bill that would require some people seeking unemployment assistance in Texas to undergo drug tests has become law. But critics say it is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars. Perry signed into law Senate Bill 21, which will require applicants trying to find work in occupations where … Continue reading
US / Unemployment Claims decrease by 12,000 near a five-year low
In the week ending June 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 334,000, a decrease of 12,000 from the previous week’s unrevised figure of 346,000. The 4-week moving average was 345,250, a decrease of 7,250 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 352,50. Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor via ETA Press Release: … Continue reading
Greece, Spain and Portugal / The Limits to the Unemployment Benefit Safety Net
Unemployment benefits are one of the safety nets available for people affected by the economic crisis in Greece, Spain and Portugal. This system — along with other social benefits such as pensions and increased remittance inflows from family members abroad, as well as aid from family members at home and, to some extent, informal economic activities — is somewhat … Continue reading
US / Jobless Claims rise but data could be distorted
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 354,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 344,000. The 4-week moving average was 347,250, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 340,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment … Continue reading
US / Unemployment Insurance / Claims drop back
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 340,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 363,000. The 4-week moving average was 339,500, a decrease of 500 from the previous week’s revised average of 340,000. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment … Continue reading
Oklahoma / Unemployment Benefits and Disaster Assistance
Disaster Assistance In order to qualify for disaster unemployment benefits your employment or self-employment must have been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster, and you must have been determined not to be eligible for regular state unemployment insurance. Major disasters have been declared in some counties in Oklahoma, and information on … Continue reading
US / The problem is the duration of unemployment benefits, not the duration of unemployment writes Alex Brill
For many who have been jobless for over six months, finding employment is difficult if not impossible. According to economists Rand Gayad and William Dickens, employers become less and less likely to hire people who are unemployed for six months or more. In short, the extravagant duration of unemployment benefits in the last five years … Continue reading
US / Jobless claims jump at the fastest pace in six months
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits climbed last week at the fastest pace in six months, a worrisome sign for the economy which has been hit by government austerity. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits jumped by 32,000 to a seasonally adjusted 360,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. That was … Continue reading
Colorado and Washington / Cuts to unemployment benefits
Coloradans receiving unemployment benefits as part of a federal extension are beginning to see an 18.2 percent reduction in compensation as a result of the across-the-board U.S. government spending cuts. The cuts apply specifically to federal extensions known as Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), which is a tiered system for paying the unemployed once their state … Continue reading
US / Jobless Claims at Lowest Level since January 2008
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to its lowest level in nearly 5-1/2 years last week, signaling labor market resilience in the face of fiscal austerity. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, the lowest level since January 2008, the Labor Department said on … Continue reading
Sequestration / Unemployment Benefit cut affect about 1.8 million workers
Federally funded benefits paid to the long-term unemployed were lowered by 10.7 percent starting March 31 as part of reductions to planned government spending called sequestration. Benefit cuts will affect about 1.8 million workers, based on Labor Department data, and add to the drag on consumer spending from a payroll tax increase that took effect … Continue reading
Canada and Quebec / Working on EI regulations will marginally help in responding to labour market needs
Unemployment worldwide and youth unemployment are a tragedy. The number of unemployed in the world has exploded with 28 million people jobless in the five years following the global financial crisis. In 2012, there were 197 million people unemployed according to the ILO. In 2013, about 210.6 million people will be unemployed according to the … Continue reading
Germany vs US / The Hartz reforms and Obama
The origins of Germany’s labor-market turnaround dates back to the mid-1990s, when its ruling class decided that things could not continue to go on this way. A humiliated Germany, of “Wirtschaftswunder” fame, had joined the rest of Europe in recording double digit unemployment rates, peaking at 13 percent in early 2005. The fabled German engineering … Continue reading
US / Jobless claims fall sharply to five-year low
The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell sharply last week to its lowest level since the early days of the 2007-09 recession, suggesting the job market is still healing despite weakness in the broader economy.Other data on Thursday showed a narrowing of the U.S. trade gap in March, although drops in … Continue reading
Florida / Unemployment Regime Violates Civil Rights Says DOL
Florida violated federal civil rights law with its new and unusual requirement that unemployment claimants file online and take math and reading tests before they can receive benefits, the U.S. Labor Department determined this month. The department’s Civil Rights Center’s initial determination lays out the problems some non-English speakers and people with disabilities have encountered … Continue reading
