“I’m terrified, to be honest. I just can’t live off of that.”
JACKSON, Miss. — Katrina Folks says she has tried everything she can think of to find work since losing her job in September because of the coronavirus pandemic.
At least 24 Republican-led states in the U.S. have now decided to end federal unemployment benefits early, months before they were set to expire in September 2021. That means millions of people will lose support. People in Mississippi, one of the poorest states in the country with the lowest-paying jobs, will be among the first to lose benefits.“I’m terrified, to be honest,” Folks said. “I just can’t live off of that.
Even though most capacity restrictions and other coronavirus regulations have been lifted for businesses, they still aren't able to recover fully because they can't find employees, said Erma Cook, director of the office of re-employment assistance at Mississippi Department of Employment Security.“Employers are reaching out to us asking for additional assistance because they have work available, but they did not have individuals coming in to interview for positions,” Cook said.
McCarrol's company has about 69 of its 89 positions filled. Sometimes, it can't run all of its machines because it doesn't have enough employees, or it has to shut down a shift. Supervisors are running machines and driving forklifts because they can't find people to fill the roles. Like many businesses, Half Shell started an incentive program, offering a $300 sign-on bonus and another $300 after three months.MGM Resorts International and Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi held a job fair featuring ice sculptures and live dancers. The Shrimp Basket restaurant chain isWorkers are demanding more than they were before the pandemic, employers say.
Folks said she's losing hope of finding a job before the June 12 deadline. Tasks like buying clothes for her 11-year-old son have become a source of stress.
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