NFIB State Director Annie Spilman released the following statement today urging Gov. Greg Abbott to end the state’s participation in federal COVID-19 supplemental unemployment assistance:
“This assistance was essential early in the pandemic when businesses were limiting hours and services or closing altogether and people were losing their jobs, but as the state’s economy has recovered, it’s had the unintended effect of discouraging some people from reentering the workforce.
“Small businesses are really struggling to find people willing to work. NFIB’s jobs report for April shows a record 44% of all small business owners report having job openings they couldn’t fill. Hopefully, by no longer accepting federal unemployment assistance, Texas can encourage more people to apply for the thousands of jobs that are out there.”