NFIB State Director Annie Spilman released the following statement today in response to a letter signed by the National Federation of Independent Business and 37 other Texas business groups urging Gov. Greg Abbott urging him to end federal pandemic-related unemployment assistance:
“Families needed these additional benefits early in the pandemic when businesses were reducing hours or closing outright. People were losing their jobs, so Congress took decisive action to help these families survive the pandemic.
“One year later, Texas’ economy is stronger and businesses are hiring, but few people are applying. The additional benefit that was meant to help families get through the COVID-19 economic downturn is discouraging some people from reentering the workforce.
“NFIB’s latest Small Business Economic Trends report said a record 44% of small businesses nationwide have openings they can’t fill. The lack of job applicants is making it hard for employers of all sizes to meet customers’ needs and fully recover. We believe that ending the supplemental federal unemployment assistance will encourage more people to return to work.”
