“The overwhelming message we receive from employers these days is the lack of workforce that is adversely affecting their ability to recover from the pandemic.” - Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development Director
Iowa has a workforce shortage.
Gov. Kim Reynolds took action to address this problem this week when she announced Iowa would end its participation in the federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits program. The enhanced benefits provided an extra $300 per week unemployment payment.
“Federal pandemic-related unemployment benefit programs initially provided displaced Iowans with crucial assistance when the pandemic began,” Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement calling for the pandemic-related benefit to end June 12. “But now that our businesses and schools have reopened, these payments are discouraging people from returning to work.”
“The overwhelming message we receive from employers these days is the lack of workforce that is adversely affecting their ability to recover from the pandemic,” said Director Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development.
This is the second time the governor has said "no" to bad federal policies that threaten the state's recovery while adding trillions to the national debt. Last week, she returned $95 million in federal funds intended to get kids back to school and said, "We’ve been in the classroom since August. Here’s your $95 million back.”
