With jobless Texans losing access to federal unemployment benefits, some in rural areas can’t find jobs
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1332a5d55e802c0deab3edf0d822eb22/TheBriefPodcast%20June%2017)
“With jobless Texans losing access to federal unemployment benefits, some in rural areas can’t find jobs” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
(Audio unavailable. Click here to listen on texastribune.org.)
Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
In May, Gov. Greg Abbott said that after June 26, Texas will opt out of extra federal assistance for unemployed Texans as a result of the pandemic. Abbott also cut off another initiative, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which extended jobless aid to gig workers, self-employed people and others who aren’t traditionally covered by unemployment insurance.
Jobless Texans will lose access to all additional federal unemployment aid — including a $300-per-week supplemental benefit. Abbott’s office said the decision was made to focus on connecting unemployed Texans with jobs instead of paying them unemployment benefits.
“The number of job openings in Texas is almost identical to the number of Texans who are receiving unemployment benefits,” Abbott said.
Kayla Richardson is an unemployed home health care worker who lives in Paducah, a town of roughly 1,000 people that’s about 125 miles north east of Lubbock. She says open jobs aren’t as easy to come by in smaller communities. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.
Start your day with a quick take on the latest Texas politics and policy news. Follow us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Amazon Echo or RSS.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/19/rural-texas-COVID-19-unemployment-audio/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
