With the national unemployment rate being over 10% and many people still looking for jobs only to be left with nothing, there was a bit of hope, many believe when the unemployment rate dropped to 9.7%. Many people who see this as a good sign point to the fact that unemployment fell even when thousands of jobs were closed. Is the drop in unemployment a sign of improvement or will the unemployed still be depending on unemployment benefits?
Jobs are still being cut but many point to the lower unemployment rate as a good sign. While this may be true, there are those who feel that the reported unemployment claims are dropping simply because men and women who have unsuccessfully been looking for work for months have exhausted their benefits.
In the jobs bill working through Congress there is an extension for unemployment benefits and if those who have lost their benefits are allowed to sign up for the new extension many people believe we will see an increase in the unemployment average once again.
Hopefully, this idea is wrong and there are more people finding jobs and companies are hiring again. Large and small businesses alike have said they plan to increase their workforce in the new year, but there are also companies who say they are going to be cutting jobs.
The Obama Administration is giving tax incentives to businesses that hire more workers and also making capital more accessible to small businesses that are looking to expand. While it will take time for these programs to work, many unemployed are looking for alternatives to unemployment benefits and seeking out any type of job that will afford them the basics.
The only certainty is solutions must be presented because unemployment benefits can’t keep Americans afloat forever.
