Missouri governor to end state’s participation in federal unemployment programs

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) announced on Tuesday that the state will end its participation in all federal unemployment programs, including a $300 additional weekly benefit included in the last COVID-19 relief measure.

Republicans have argued the benefit could be a disincentive for people to work, seizing on a worse-than-expected jobs report released on Friday.

In a press release, Parson said he directed the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to notify the Department of Labor to end all federal pandemic-related unemployment insurance programs. 

It’s time that we end these programs that have ultimately incentivized people to stay out of the workforce.

Learn more: https://t.co/v3yWG45Mje

— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) May 11, 2021

The release said the move was needed to address workforce shortages across the state.

“We know that one of the last remaining hurdles to full economic recovery is addressing this labor shortage. Even with unemployment at only 4.2 percent, there are still 221,266 known job postings across the state,” Parson said in a statement.

“The solution to close this gap is not the excessive spending of taxpayer dollars by the federal government, but rather getting people back to work and to a sense of normalcy for themselves and their families. Today’s action ensures that we will fill existing jobs as well as the thousands of new jobs coming to our state as businesses continue to invest and expand in Missouri.” 

Missouri is one of several states led by a Republican governor that have moved to end or are considering ending the federal benefits. Missouri plans to end its federal benefits program on June 12.