Media clips

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• White House opens door to state aid despite opposition from conservative groups, some GOP lawmakers

  States nationwide are bracing for significant budget cuts as demand for government services increases while tax revenue plummets because of a drop in economic activity. The Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, said earlier this week that state and local governments could experience revenue shortfalls of nearly $1 trillion by 2021. Nearly 1,000 firefighters have already been furloughed or laid off nationwide, according to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, with 30,000 more possible this year or next.

  The Washington Post May 15, 2020
• Worse Than Reported?

  The Associated Press reported that an additional 7.5 million workers have been mistakenly classified as “employed, not at work” when they actually were jobless last month and should have been counted as unemployed, according to Shierholz, who now works at the liberal Economic Policy Institute. Add those numbers to the mix, the jobless rate shoots up to 23.6 percent — not far behind the all-time unemployment peak of roughly 25 percent from 1933.

  eMissourian May 15, 2020
• Más hogares en aprietos: 36.5 millones de personas han pedido el subsidio por desempleo en EEUU

  Y ese número habría sido aún más abultado pues millones más simplemente se cansaron de intentar acceder a los colapsados sistemas de los estados para solicitar el subsidio y miles más ni lo habrían intentado, según un reciente informe del Economic Policy Institute.

  Univision May 15, 2020
• Jobless Claims Top 36.5 Million Amid Virus Crisis As Another 3 Million File For Unemployment

  “The Economic Policy Institute earlier this week estimated that the current claims level probably undercounts by as much as 12 million those who are eligible for benefits but not getting them due to the inability to file or other roadblocks,” CNBC reported last month.

  The Daily Wire May 15, 2020
• Latest new claims for jobless benefits brings 8-week total to a cringeworthy 36.5 million

  Heidi Shierholz at the Economic Policy Institute notes: “Many of the jobs that have been lost in this recession are low-wage service, retail sales, and office jobs. Because of things like occupational segregation, discrimination, and other labor market disparities, women and black and Hispanic workers are more concentrated in these jobs and as a result are facing greater job loss.”

  Daily Kos May 15, 2020
• Latinas among those hit hardest by COVID-19 job losses

  That’s because some of the hardest hit sectors of the economy are dominated by women, and particularly Latinas. Hospitality, retail and health care have all seen big job losses that have left Latinas vulnerable, says Elise Gould with the Economic Policy Institute.

  “The unemployment rate for Hispanic women sits at 20.2%,” Gould said. “That’s 1 in 5 Hispanic women are now unemployed.”

  Marketplace May 15, 2020
• ¿Aún no has logrado pedir el subsidio por desempleo? Esto debes saber de la ayuda por la pandemia

  Millones más posiblemente siguen intentando sin éxito acceder a los viejos sistemas de los Departamentos del Trabajo de los estados o simplemente han tirado la toalla pues consideran que solicitar la ayuda por el desempleo es demasiado difícil, como mostró un reciente informe del Economic Policy Institute que reseñamos aquí. Sin embargo, quienes lo necesiten deben persistir en ese intento, debido a que una vez se procese y apruebe su solicitud recibirán los beneficios de forma retroactiva.

  Univision May 15, 2020
• 10.9% of labor force in Minnesota filed jobless claims over 3 weeks

  With more than 15 million Americans out of work, the nation’s overall unemployment could hit nearly 16 percent by July, according to estimates released by the Economic Policy Institute. That rate would be greater than any other jobless figures recorded since the 1930s.

  The Center Square May 15, 2020
• Meditation app Headspace is free for people who are unemployed

  More than 36 million people have reportedly filed for unemployment in the US over the past few months due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. A survey from the Economic Policy Institute published last month estimates that an additional 14 million people would’ve filed if the process were easier.

  CNET May 15, 2020
• N.J. unemployment claims jump by 70K as Murphy considers reopening economy

  Heidi Shierholz, a labor economist with the Economic Policy Institute, said the impending crisis of mass unemployment among state and local governments is preventable if the federal government steps in. State and local governments have balanced budget requirements, restrictions the federal government doesn’t have.

  “The fact that we’re not doing it now is just unconscionable,” Sheirholz said. “It’s a huge unforced error.”

  NJ.com May 15, 2020