Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told state residents receiving unemployment benefits that they will soon be required to prove they are looking for employment.
The requirement was waived amid the coronavirus pandemic. The state saw unemployment rates spike to 14% as businesses shut down in April of 2020.
However, by March 2021, Florida’s unemployment rate plummeted to 5%.
“Normally, when you’re getting unemployment, the whole idea is that’s temporary, and you need to be looking for work to be able to get off unemployment,” DeSantis said at a news conference, the news service reported. “It was a disaster [at the beginning of the pandemic], so we suspended those job search requirements. I think it’s pretty clear now; we have an abundance of job openings.”
Apparently, some businesses have struggled to hire workers as they reopen.
The requirement to show proof that they are looking for work will go into effect on May 29.
“We suspended that last year at this time because, quite frankly, there weren’t jobs,” he said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
“I think now we’re in just a different situation; you have a surplus of jobs, particularly in restaurant, lodging, hospitality, that people want to hire,” he added. “But we also just want to make sure, like, look, if you’re really unemployed, can’t get a job, that’s one thing. But making sure that you’re doing your due diligence to look for work, and making sure those incentives align better.”
Those unemployed will be required to apply for at least five jobs a week to keep getting benefits.
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