Some Oklahomans Concerned As Federal Unemployment Benefits Set To End Next Month

Some people are concerned after federal unemployment benefits that kicked in during the pandemic are set to end in Oklahoma on June 27. 

Governor Stitt opted out of these benefits early for the state but will now offer a new $1,200 incentive for people to return to the workforce.

Read: Gov. Stitt To End Federal Unemployment Benefits Early, Offers Job Seekers $1,200 Reward

Stephanie Miller lost her job during the pandemic when her employer, Stage Stores, filed for bankruptcy. She still struggles to get a new job that compares to the wages and benefits she had before the pandemic.

“There’s work but it’s not the work we had, its nothing like we had,” she said.

She worked as a mid-level manager for Stage in Seminole. 

Miller is part of a Facebook group called the Oklahoma Unemployment Support Group. 

She said she is seeing concerns from members about the types of job options they are considering now, especially in smaller communities. 

“We haven’t had a voice in this, and I think it’s unfair,” she said. 

Miller sees other members getting good jobs but is still trying to find a job that meets her bare minimum requirements. 

“I’m looking for a job that is full time, at least $10 an hour, because that’s just base, I can’t make it any lower than that. And with some benefits,” she said. 

Miller does not currently have health insurance. 

In Seminole, this type of job has not been easy to find. She has noticed there are many open positions for fast food jobs but did not see any that pay over minimum wage. 

“You can’t complain that you aren’t getting the applications when you don’t want to pay a decent, livable wage,” Miller said. 

Her job search is restricted because her vehicle isn’t reliable enough to commute. 

“I have to find something local. You put your apps in everywhere and you don’t hear anything for weeks and weeks,” she said. 

Miller said there were strong reactions in the group when the end of COVID-related employment benefits was announced Monday.

“People are panicking. This is a scary thing. This is just one more thing to add on top of it when we’re already desperate to find work,” she said. 

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission is working to connect employers with job seekers. 

“We are seeing a lag, the recovery rate on jobs coming back has been slower than it was in the great recession,” OESC Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt said. “I mean that is the reality. The reality is also that we have over 200,000 people that are workforce eligible in our state that have not returned to the workforce.”

Related: OESC Breaks Down $1,200 Back-To-Work Incentive