Washington state economy can’t afford to be governed by further ‘whim’
OLYMPIA, Wash., July 2, 2020—The release yesterday of NFIB’s monthly Jobs Report didn’t offer anything to celebrate, which is why the association’s Washington state director said today it was more important than ever to govern by solid decision making, not by whim.
“Gov. Jay Inslee’s Saturday pronouncement that counties eligible to move to Phase 4 under his so-called ‘Safe Start’ re-opening plan would be ‘paused’ indefinitely, regardless of local health conditions — or his own COVID-19 dashboard — is sure to erode what little optimism Washington small-business owners had for getting back to work by Independence Day,” said NFIB Washington State Director Patrick Connor. “The growing number of looming permanent business closures, lost jobs, and resulting state revenue decreases are only made worse by the governor’s continued substitution of political whim for sound, science-based, decision-making.”
Yesterday’s Jobs Report showed the small business labor market has further weakened in June. Firms reduced employment by 0.28 workers per firm over the past month, weaker than the decrease of 0.17 workers per firm in May. Unchanged from last month, 6% reported increasing employment an average of 2.6 workers per firm and 22% (up one point) reported reducing employment an average of 4.6 workers per firm (seasonally adjusted).
Commented NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg, “As states change reopening rules and dates, sometimes easing restrictions, small businesses are feeling various levels of uncertainty as to what comes next. With recent COVID-19 spikes in some cases, many state governments are reversing prior decisions and reducing the potential for small business to earn needed revenue.”
Keep up with the latest Washington state small-business news at www.nfib.com/washington or by following NFIB on Twitter @NFIB_WA or on Facebook @NFIB.WA
Contact: Patrick Connor, Washington State Director, [email protected]
or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, [email protected]
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For more than 77 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since its founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.
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