LANSING – As part of a continuing effort to help Michigan workers who are struggling in the global economic crisis, State Representatives Steven Lindberg (D-Marquette) and Judy Nerat (D-Wallace) today voted in favor of a plan to extend unemployment benefits for workers who take advantage of retraining or vocational programs to pursue good-paying jobs available now in high-demand fields. Michigan's unemployment rate is currently 12.6 percent, the highest in the nation.
"We must reach out to our hard-working men and women to support them during these tough times," Nerat said. "At any point, any one of us could find ourselves unemployed and struggling to get by. This plan supports our workers by offering them training so they can become leaders in the good-paying jobs of the 21st century."
Under the plan, unemployed workers who are enrolled in a vocational or skill retraining program qualify for an additional 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. These benefits will be automatically provided to workers who are in a declining industry and enter an approved training program that prepares workers for entry into a high-demand occupation. Under this program, workers will be able to complete their training and have the time they need to move back into the workforce.
The stimulus dollars would cover funding for workers in retraining for at least the next two years. Without this plan, Michigan stands to lose out on more than $138 million in unemployment assistance money as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Michigan's underemployment rate was 19.1 percent in February, according to an April 14 article in The Detroit News. This number includes both unemployed and those who are looking for a full-time job and are unable to find work.
"This plan will help those workers who have worked hard and played by the rules, yet have found themselves laid off or downsized," said Lindberg,Chair of the House Labor Committee. "The workers who have suffered the brunt of this recession deserve the opportunity to get back on the job and get the training they need for the jobs of the 21st century economy. By getting our workers the training they deserve, we'll show them that Michigan truly values hard work."