Natural State News

Some businesses in Arkansas are reporting an increase in the number of job seekers as a result of the state's decision to forego further federal unemployment benefits, according to a news report by ABC 7.

Goodwill Industries Career Services Program Director Tammy Wheaton, who has personally seen this increase, stated that Arkansans seeking to re-enter the workforce are hoping to gain new skills by visiting one of the organization's nine career centers throughout the state.

"The employer that we're working with today, they have over 100 positions available," Wheaton said. "Most of the employers that we're working with, they have several available, 20 or more."

The $300 boost in federal unemployment benefits expired on June 26 after Gov, Asa Hutchinson's May 14 decision to withdraw from the program.

"The $300 federal supplement helped thousands of Arkansans make it through this tough time, so it served a good purpose," Hutchinson stated in a press release. "Now we need Arkansans back on the job so that we can get our economy back to full speed."

Sara Lusher, owner of Emelia's On Dickson in Fayetteville, is relieved that the additional unemployment benefits are ending as they encouraged an increase in applications, which resulted in the hiring of two new employees, according to a report by 5 News.

“The last few months have been horrible,” Lusher told 5 News. “I’ve been serving tables by myself for 15 months.”

In a report by the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, the state's unemployment rate was 4.4% in May of this year, more than a point lower than the national average.

According to a report by THV 11, eight other states also opted out of receiving payments in the week before Arkansas's decision. 

Currently, 26 states have decided to discontinue supplementary unemployment benefits. All of these states, with the exception of Louisiana, are led by Republican governors, according to Fox Business.