Gov. Doug Burgum says North Dakota will end its participation in the federal government’s pandemic-related unemployment assistance programs, effective June 19. Burgum says that ending the $300 weekly federal supplemental benefit that is on top of state benefits is being done “to help address the ongoing workforce shortage across the state.” North Dakota had 16,396 online job openings in April, which was nearly 50 percent higher than the same period in 2020 and represents the state’s largest number of online job openings since July 2015 Burgum said more than 8,300 people are claiming unemployment benefits under the programs being terminated.
“Federal funds provided a safety net to our unemployed workers during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now that open jobs are surpassing pre-pandemic levels, we believe that re-employment is the best recovery plan for North Dakota‘s economic health,” said Bryan Klipfel, executive director of Job Service North Dakota.
“The termination of federal, pandemic-related unemployment benefit programs is a straightforward solution to a growing workforce problem,” said Arik Spencer, CEO and President of the Greater North Dakota Chamber. “Anytime the federal government competes with private employers to keep people at home is problematic. The federal unemployment relief provided short-term financial assistance and has served its purpose. Let’s get the workforce back in a position to help our state and economy recover.”
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