Wisconsin’s unemployed workers may be getting an extension in benefits. The federal government is looking to pass emergency legislation to extend unemployment benefits or states with an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent or higher. Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman says Wisconsin, where the most recent seasonally adjusted unenmployment rate stands at 8.8 percent, would be included.
“We have thousands of people who are going to be running out of even the extended benefits that we’ve been able to provide through the recovery act,” Gassman says. “Given the national recession, we know that turning around unemployment, and turning around job losses, is going to be the last part of our economy to show true recovery.”
All eight members of Wisconsin’s House delegation voted for the emergency legislation, which now awaits Senate action. Gassman says Wisconsin is one of many states hoping to get more federal money for benefits, which are set to expire for more than 9,000 state residents. Numbers from August show Wisconsin’s unadjusted unemployment rate is 8.4 percent.
WIBA’s Chandra Lynn submitted this report
