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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans";color:black"><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5312in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D7466B.C2C1E150"></span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">May 11, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">“It’s time to get back to work” – Gov. Little ends Idaho’s participation in all federal pandemic unemployment compensation programs<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced today Idaho will end its participation in three federal pandemic unemployment compensation programs to help employers get workers back on the job.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">“Employers are telling me one of the big reasons they cannot recruit and retain some workers is because those employees are receiving more on unemployment than they would while working. We see
‘Help Wanted’ signs everywhere. Idaho has the strongest economy in the nation, and we are a top 10 state for best employment, but there is more we can do. It’s time to get back to work,”
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Governor Little said. <b>“My decision is based on a fundamental conservative principle – we do not want people on unemployment. We want people working. A strong economy cannot exist without workers returning
to a job.”</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">"The Idaho Chamber Alliance, along with chambers of commerce across the state, support Governor Little as he brings an end to the federal supplements to unemployment insurance benefits. We feel that
this is an important next step to helping businesses recover and we look forward to working with the Governor's Office as we seek ways to improve workforce availability for Idaho’s businesses," said Chip Schwarze, chairman of the Idaho Chamber Alliance. </span><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">“The current labor shortage in Idaho has created significant challenges for our businesses. So many employees in our industry have left the workforce and we aren't sure when or if they will come
back. Workers seem to chase money, whether it is from the government or other employers that keep raising wages. We work hard to be an outstanding employee-centered business and we compensate our people well. But, the current environment is making it difficult
to run operations smoothly. We have had to turn down lots of business because we don't have the people to deliver services and I fear that if not dealt with, there will be lasting effects. I applaud Governor Little for his leadership and continued pro-business
stance,” said Stephanie Camarillo of Molly Maid in Meridian and NFIB member.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Effective June 19, 2021, the following federal programs will end in Idaho:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) – provides an additional $300 weekly payment<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – benefits those who would not usually qualify for unemployment, such as the self-employed and others<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – extends benefits once regular benefits have been exhausted<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Idaho was one of only three states that chose not to participate in the Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) unemployment program, an additional federal program that provided a $100 benefit
to certain people on top of the additional $300 weekly payment.</span><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">In addition, Idaho </span>
<a href="https://idahoatwork.com/2021/04/26/claimants-must-look-for-work-to-receive-unemployment-benefits/"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">recently reinstated the pre-pandemic work search requirements</span></a><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">
for unemployment insurance claimants to help get workers back on the job. The work search requirement means Idahoans who are out of work and collecting unemployment benefits must look for full-time employment. The requirement was lifted during the pandemic
but was reinstated in April.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Through the work of the Idaho Department of Labor, Workforce Development Council, State Board of Education and other entities, Idaho also continually works to address workforce barriers such as the
availability of childcare, matching worker skills to the needs of employers, and increasing the labor force participation rate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#444444;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Idaho was a leader in getting workers back on the job during the pandemic. Last year, Idaho was the first state to boldly implement
</span><a href="https://gov.idaho.gov/pressrelease/more-details-available-on-return-to-work-bonuses-idahos-conservative-approach-to-strengthening-workforce-continuing-strong-economic-rebound-saving-taxpayer-dollars/"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Back
to Work incentives</span></a><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""> during the most difficult months of the pandemic. The Return to Work bonuses counteracted the federal payouts and incentivized the workforce to get back to work safely. The federal government
now is eyeing Idaho’s program as a way to help hard-hit businesses now that jobs across the country are coming back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""># # #</span><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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