Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


1.2 Million More Americans Seek Jobless Benefits

Ken Bredemeier

   WASHINGTON - Another 1.2 million unemployed U.S. workers filed for
   government jobless compensation last week, the government's Labor
   Department reported Thursday, as the unabated coronavirus pandemic
   continues to wreak havoc on the American economy.

   It was the 20th straight week that more than a million people sought
   government assistance as the virus unrelentingly attacks communities
   large and small throughout the country, forcing employers to shut down
   their businesses or curtail their operations and lay off workers.

   But last week's claims total was an improvement, 249,000 fewer workers
   seeking aid than the previous week, perhaps because a four-month boost
   in federal aid to the unemployed has, at least for the moment, ended.

   Until last Friday, the U.S. was sending an extra $600 a week to the
   jobless workers on top of less generous state unemployment benefits.
   However, the federal payments expired at the end of July and so far
   this week the administration of President Donald Trump and opposition
   Democrats in Congress have been unable to reach an agreement on how
   long to extend the payments or how much the assistance should be.

   Republican lawmakers said they are looking to immediately cut the
   federal boost by two-thirds, to $200 a week, while saying they hope
   eventually to set the benefit claims at 70% of workers' former wages.
   Democratic lawmakers want to keep the current $600-a-week extra
   payments through the end of 2020.

.