Workforce
State and local governments face a tight labor market and a competitive disadvantage with the private sector. But salaries aren’t the only issue, with cities, counties and states all grappling with training, retention, remote work and increased union activity.
DHS is using federal funds to reimburse local police who partner with ICE, a policy that could reshape law enforcement in rural communities with limited staffing and resources.
State officials were reminded repeatedly of the outdated unemployment system through several audits, but continued to ignore the issue. Now COVID-19 is forcing the state to deal with the antiquated system.
In 2013, Deloitte was paid $40 million to overhaul Florida’s unemployment system. In March, the system failed immediately. Now, the state is paying Deloitte $135 million to take on the state Medicaid system.
Latest unemployment figures show the state has recovered about 500,000 jobs so far. While some industries have mostly rebounded, others, like government, travel and education, still struggle.
Which states have shed the most public employees? Which have added the most? And what types of jobs are leading the pack? New numbers from the Census Bureau help to illustrate the big picture.
Gov. David Ige vetoed a spending plan that would have added $100 in state weekly unemployment benefits, and hopes Congress comes up with a compromise to continue the $600-a-week federal benefit or something close to it.
Gov. Newsom announced the formation of a team that will focus on resolving nearly 1 million backlogged unemployment benefit claims and then will work to streamline the process for future claim processing.
As workers are asked to return to their physical workplaces, many are nervous about COVID-19 risks. Some workplaces don’t enforce masks or social distancing and won’t pay for sick leave or COVID-19 tests.
COVID-19 has accelerated government's move to new workplace arrangements. A Tennessee program that has significantly cut the state's office space needs shows the way to build on those gains.
The Employment Department has been processing claims more slowly than anticipated, but the original 70,000 claims have been cut to 44,000 and officials are optimistic that they’ll work through the remainder by Aug. 4.
The extra $600 each week in federal unemployment benefits that jobless workers have been receiving during the pandemic is scheduled to end soon. Many are wondering what impacts the program’s end will have on the economy.
A recent study of unemployment numbers ranked all U.S. states in their recovery from COVID-19. States have made progress, but the nation will need months, if not years, to fully recover from this economic crisis.
In some states, COVID-19 is classified as “ordinary disease of life,” like the flu, and is not covered by workers’ compensation. If it were covered, the health system could owe up to $16 billion in workers’ comp nationally.
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Coordination and consistency are key in getting the message out to citizens in times of crisis.
In California, Black and Latinx women have seen a 23 and 22 percent employment decline, respectively, due to COVID-19. “This is really amplifying existing inequalities, especially racial and ethnic inequities.”
Washington state saw an 11 percent decline in unemployment applications in the week ending on July 4. But 736,000 are still jobless and the additional weekly $600 federal benefit payments are set to expire by July 25.
States and localities will need the full range of tools to recover economically. That calls for federal policies that tap infrastructure-building's power to boost local jobs and small-business growth.
A report finds that the coronavirus-caused shift to remote work has altered the idea of a workspace. Some are uncomfortable with returning to an office and many hope to continue working from home even after offices reopen.
Nearly 2 million unemployment claims that were filed months ago still haven’t been paid. Residents and lawmakers are frustrated by the state’s inability to keep up. “EDD is utterly failing millions of Californians.”
The state has been inundated with more than 600,000 residents filing for unemployment benefits. Even with hundreds of workers helping, approximately 40,000 phone calls each week go unanswered.
The Employment Development Department announced last week that unemployment applicants will now be able to receive benefits for a total of 59 weeks as a part of the Federal-State Extended Duration benefits program.
Thousands of Alabama residents have taken to sleeping outside of the makeshift unemployment claims help center, to hopefully get assistance in person. But the state’s unemployment fund is quickly running out of money.
A new report suggests focusing on training opportunities, expanding broadband access and creating equitable inclusion in the workforce as important pieces when rebuilding Wisconsin’s economy.
Two state representatives want an investigation into the unemployment system failures, and want to find out why thousands of residents have gone weeks or months without receiving their benefits.
Many Ohioans have filed for workers’ compensation after allegedly contracting COVID-19 while on the job, but companies are skeptical of the claims. The state has created a special review team to evaluate these claims.
The state is considering layoffs and salary cuts as a few ways to reduce losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. With less than a week until the new fiscal year, unions have come out opposed to the proposed cuts.
The state’s Employment Department announced last week that there is a backlog of 70,000 unprocessed Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims. The department hopes to overcome the backlog in six or seven weeks.
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Public sector leaders share thoughts on workforce planning in the digital era.
As workers stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, companies are having to establish new rules to keep their employees safe and accountable. But if remote work continues after the pandemic, guidelines are essential.
The number of residents applying for unemployment aid has slowed down, but more than 2 million Floridians have applied for assistance overall. Many applicants are also still experiencing delayed or missing payments.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission unanimously voted to replace 492 human workers with all-electronic systems. The commission says the layoffs will save nearly $100 million over the next two years.
