OHIO — During the coronavirus pandemic, states lifted requirements that those on unemployment must actively be looking for work.
Starting the week of May 23, those on unemployment in Ohio will be required to prove they are actively applying for work, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Interim Director Matt Damschroder announced Monday.
From March 2020 through the end of 2020, the federal government told states to lift rules that those on unemployment must seek work. Since then, the unemployment rate in Ohio has fallen below pre-pandemic levels.
“Now that Ohioans have had the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and can safely return to work, it only makes sense that we restore work-search requirements for everyone,” said Gov. Mike DeWine in a statement.
Although unemployment levels are below pre-pandemic levels, some have opted to leave the workforce entirely.
In February 2020, an estimated 5.9 million Ohioans were part of the state’s workforce, according to federal statistics. Among those in the workforce, 5.62 million Ohioans were employed. In March 2021, the workforce dipped to 5.75 million, with 5.48 million Ohioans holding jobs. The result of these figures is that the percentage of Ohioans in the workforce dropped from 63.7% in February 2020 to 62.1% in March 2021.
Although the number of Ohioans who are unemployed has dropped continually since last April when the unemployment rate jumped to 16.1% during the onset of the pandemic, participation in the workforce has continually dropped, according to federal figures.
Meanwhile, DeWine hinted during an interview with Canton’s WHBC-AM that Ohio may opt out of a federal program that provides $300 per week unemployment supplements.
“One of the arguments is that — that we hear is that the federal government’s added unemployment compensation, which is $300, you know, … that is making it, frankly — people are better off financially not working than working,” DeWine said. “And so we’re looking at that, and seeing whether or not you know, that should be changed. You know that was a federal program that’s been continued through September, so whether Ohio, you know, might opt out of that is certainly something that, you know, people are, people are talking about.”
