Gov. Spencer Cox appeared on CNN Sunday, saying paying enhanced unemployment benefits is no longer working. He told CNN State of the Union that Utah’s biggest problem currently is finding workers for unfilled jobs. When asked if Cox thought other governors’ plans to begin rolling back benefits was a good idea, he replied, “unfortunately, yes.” Cox said Friday’s unemployment numbers were “terrible” and “not what we were expecting at all.” He added this is what happens when the government pays people not to work because it acts as a disincentive to work.
On the other hand, the White House says the benefits are not a disincentive to working, which is a position other job reports are saying isn’t true because, for example, restaurants can’t get people to apply due to those enhanced benefits.
