The massive stimulus package passed earlier this year was expected to strengthen the economy and recover jobs lost during the pandemic. However, just 226,000 jobs were added in April and that has raised some questions as to where the nation’s economic recovery stands.
Economists estimate there are nearly 8-million jobs to recover since March of last year.
Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was in Hopkinsville Friday to meet with a roundtable of business and industrial leaders to address the issues facing the workforce in Christian County and western Kentucky.
McConnell said generous unemployment payments over the past 14 months and multiple stimulus checks are mostly to blame.
click to download audioSome Democrats have indicated that more people would return to work if companies raised their pay, but McConnell said the money received for not working makes it harder to incentivize returning to work.
click to download audioSome national surveys have shown people are still hesitant to return to work until they are fully vaccinated and their children are back in school.
Carter Hendricks, the executive director of the South West Kentucky Economic Development Council, said there is some optimism the workforce will improve but last week’s jobless news was not good.
click to download audioKirstie Darnall with the Christian County Chamber of Commerce told the roundtable they are have a program that helps foster both the workforce and education in keeping the local workflow strong.
click to download audioNational economists still expect hiring to increase this summer as the economy reopens fully and more people get vaccinated.
