unemployment

Money once promised to the region for public health, environmental, diversity, food aid and an array of other programs has been axed, and thousands of local jobs are in jeopardy.

After 10 months of providing behavioral health support, Maria Loconsolo was ready to commit 20 years at her federal job with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Those plans went out the window last weekend.

Missouri’s unemployment rate increases fell in line with most places across the country. Nearly 90% of metro areas included in a new federal report saw hikes.

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Missouri’s current unemployment benefit ranges from 13 to 20 weeks, depending on the state’s unemployment rate. The new bill shortens it to as few as eight.

Unemployment rates are dropping across Missouri after a pandemic-driven downturn, but some workers are slow to return to the labor force.

As employers struggle to staff their facilities, workers' priorities are changing about the kind of work they want or need to do.

The waivers could lead to the forgiveness of more than $100 million in federal money that the state has tried to recoup from 47,000 Missourians.

Gov. Mike Parson stopped all federal pandemic-related unemployment programs, effective June 12, in the hopes of incentivizing people to return to the workforce.

Republican governors are moving to end $300-a-week pandemic payments for the unemployed in a controversial effort to push people back to work. Missouri is set to end them this week.

The legislature failed to pass a bill that aimed to forgive nearly $150 million in mostly federal benefits given to thousands of Missourians mistakenly during the height of the pandemic.

In his announcement ending the federal payments, Gov. Parson stated, "It's time that we end these programs that have ultimately incentivized people to stay out of the workforce."