Peach Tree Times

The state wants to find ways to incentivize Georgians to return to work as businesses nationwide struggle to find employees because of labor shortages many blame on the federal government’s COVID-19-related unemployment programs.

Georgia’s federal unemployment benefits increase of $300 per week will end on June 26, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in May. In addition, the Georgia Department of Labor is enforcing a job search requirement for Georgians receiving unemployment benefits. Georgia is among more than 20 states that ended “the $300 enhanced unemployment benefit early,” Forbes said.

“As we emerge from this pandemic, Georgians deserve to get back to normal – and today’s announced economic recovery plan will help more employees and businesses across our state do so,” Kemp said.

 As of June 3, the Georgia Department of Labor processed more than 4.85 million regular unemployment insurance claims since March 21, 2020, “more than the last 10 years prior to the pandemic combined (4.8 million).”

The Department of Labor will enforce a job search requirement for Georgians receiving unemployment benefits in light of the labor crisis that has hit Georgia and nationwide. The DoL stated that it is focused on legitimate claims and helping people get back to work, with more than 226k job openings currently in Georgia.

“You are required to make a good faith effort to find another job as soon as possible. You can only be paid for weeks during which you actively seek work. Unless the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) specifically exempts you under our law from this requirement, you are required to make a minimum of three new reportable job contacts each week. These ," the department said.

Contacts must be with employers not previously contacted and can include those made in person, by telephone, online or by résumés faxed, mailed, or emailed.

EmployGeorgia listed more than 226,000 job openings as of June 3.

The goal is to encourage Georgians to return to work, even though 82% of unemployed Georgians in April who normally earned less than $20,000 per year received $28,808, with the help of federal unemployment insurance supplements, AllOnGeorgia said.