Unemployment

House Lawmakers Pass Unemployment Overhaul

Jessica Jones — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:57:40 +0000

North Carolina House lawmakers have tentatively passed a bill largely along party lines that would lower benefits for unemployed workers. The measure would reduce the maximum weekly allowed benefit from $500 to $350. It would also reduce the maximum amount of time a laid-off worker could receive benefits from 26 weeks to between 12 and 20 weeks. Democratic Representative Paul Luebke said this is the wrong bill to be passing at a time when unemployment in the state is high.

State Lawmakers Consider Changing Unemployment Benefits

Jessica Jones — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:10:32 +0000

State lawmakers in the House plan to take up a bill this evening that would reduce unemployment benefits for laid-off workers. House Bill 4 is expected to reach the floor for lawmakers to consider tonight. The measure would speed up repayment of North Carolina’s 2.57 billion dollar debt to the federal government. The state borrowed that money to help pay unemployment benefits to a rapidly growing number of people who lost their jobs during the recession.

Unemployment Changes Coming

Dave DeWitt and Frank Stasio — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:42:58 +0000

The General Assembly is expected to consider legislation this week that will reform the federal unemployment insurance program. Republican leaders say the changes will help pay back a growing debt the state owes the federal government.

Advocates for workers say they are unnecessary and will push thousands of residents over a financial cliff. News and Observer reporter Mandy Locke joins Frank Stasio to discuss the changes and how it may affect tens of thousands of North Carolina residents.

NC Job Growth Limited to Metro Areas

Leoneda Inge — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 22:30:00 +0000

North Carolina’s metropolitan areas show some positive momentum in the jobs front. But three areas in the state lag behind the rest.

Almost 100-percent of the job growth in North Carolina since the end of the recession in 2009 has occurred in the state’s metropolitan areas. And Allan Fryer, a policy analyst with the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center says 90-percent of the job growth has occurred in only three metro areas – Raleigh, Charlotte and Durham.

Changes Proposed to Unemployment Benefits

Leoneda Inge — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:05:16 +0000

Many people could end up paying more with the latest draft proposal to overhaul the state’s unemployment system and re-pay the federal government.

Tessie Bethel is a laid off custodian. Her unemployment runs out before Christmas. She gets 179-dollars a week.

Tessie Bethel: "I had to pay 85-dollars for an eye exam yesterday. It’s gone. I only have 40-dollars left for up until next Tuesday again. It doesn’t last."

Youth Employment Lowest Since WWII

Leoneda Inge — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:30:00 +0000

A nnational report shows the number of working teenagers and young adults is at its lowest point in 50 years.

TE Connectivity To Layoff More than 600

Jeff Tiberii — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:00:00 +0000

A manufacturing plant in High Point will close by the end of next year and more than 600 people could lose their jobs.

State Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly

Gurnal Scott — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 02:22:00 +0000

The state Commerce Department says North Carolina's unemployment rate has risen slightly. The state's unemployment rate went up to 9-point-7 percent in August. Analysts say that translates to nearly six thousand more people reported as being out of work. That brings the total number of unemployed in North Carolina to more than 450,000.

Recession Deep, Recovery Slow In North Carolina

Isaac-Davy Aronson — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:21:00 +0000

The economic downturn hit North Carolina harder than much of the country, and it will take the state longer to recover. That's the conclusion of a new report from UNC's Global Research Institute.

North Carolina's Jobless Rate Inches Upward

Gurnal Scott — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:48:00 +0000

North Carolina's unemployment rate increased slightly to 9-point-6 percent in July. It's the first increase after holding steady for three months at 9-point-4 percent. But Larry Parker with the Division of Employment Security says overall, the numbers indicate things are moving in the right direction.