Starting Saturday, Missouri will no longer offer additional federal pandemic unemployment benefits.
A growing number of Republican-controlled states have chosen to end the federal aid that added $300 per week. Last month, Governor Parson announced the decision because he said the extra funding is causing worker shortages among some Missouri businesses.
Missouri House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield says contrary to what the governor claims, she says the free market – not some federal boogeyman – is primarily responsible for Missouri’s tight labor market. She says when there are more open jobs than available workers, businesses must increase wages to attract prospective employees, particularly in industries with a high risk of COVID-19 exposure.
