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Local economy begins to rebound, unemployment numbers drop

Local economy begins to rebound, unemployment numbers drop
ON THE SURFACE, THE BUSTLE AROUND MOUNT LOOKOUT SHARE REQUESTS WHAT THE JOBLESS NUMBERS SHOW. AN ECONOMY STARTING TO REBOUND. 2.5 MILLION JOBS ADDED ON THE BACK END OF THE PANDEMIC. >> THE NUMBERS ARE GREAT AND THIS LEADS US ON TO A LONG PERIOD OF GROWTH. >> The Reporter: THE FORMER CINCINNATI SOCIAL WORKER IS NOT FEELING THAT VIBE RIGHT NOW. LAID OFF SINCE MID-MARCH, HEATHER TURNER SPENDS HOURS EACH DAY, TRYING TO CONNECT WITH YOU UNEMPLOYMENT. >> IT TELLS ME HOW MUCH I'M ENTITLED TO PER WEEK, BUT THEN IT SAYS, THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND WE CAN'T PAY YOU. >> SO YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED UNEMPLOYMENT? >> NOTHING. >> The Reporter: WE'RE TOLD T QUICKEST REBOUND IS WITH IT, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS. AND BRANDON SURRICK WITH JOHNSON ASSET MANAGEMENTS, NOTES THE ELEVATED LEVEL OF 13%. >> PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK, CAPACITY IS NOT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS AT THE END OF 2019. >> The Reporter: UNITED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, UNTIL THE PANDEMIC PUT THE BRAKES ON THE ECONOMY. SHE TRIED AGAIN UNSUCCESSFULLY TO GET THROUGH TO THE STATE TODAY, RELATING HOW ONCE WHEN SHE DID CONNECT -- >> THEY TOLD ME THIS IS 15%, 20% OF ALL OHIOANS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN PAID ANYTHING. BUT THE GRACE OF GOD AND MY CREDIT CARD I'M MAKING IT. >> The Reporter: WHILE OHIO'S GOVERNOR LIFTS MORE LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS AND MORE BUSINESSES START TO REHIRE FURLOUGHED WORKERS, THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BUT HAVE YET TO RECEIVE IT ARE RUNNING UP HIGH INTEREST CREDIT CARD DEBT. >> IT'S SHAMEFUL. IT'S SHAMEFUL. IT'S HARD. MIKE: >> The Reporter: ALL RIGHT, NOW HERE'S WHAT THE STATE TELLS US. AS OF TODAY, OHIO JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES TELLS US IT HAS PRO ZESTED 94% OF T INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. THOSE REMAINING ARE THE MOST COMPLEX BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE STAFF INTERVENTIONS. OF THE OFFICE GETTING UP TO
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Local economy begins to rebound, unemployment numbers drop
There are signs Friday that the nation's dipping economy is springing back up, at least a bit of a bounce.It's not exactly a robust rebound, but it's a start according to the latest Labor Department report on joblessness.April's unemployment figure of 14.7% dropped to 13.3% in May.On the surface, the bustle around Mt. Lookout Square Friday suggested what those numbers show -- an economy starting to rebound.The government said 2.5 million jobs were added last month on the back end of the pandemic, a lot more than what was anticipated."The numbers are great," said President Trump Friday morning. "And this leads us onto a long period of growth."In Dayton Friday afternoon, we spoke with a former Cincinnati social worker who is not feeling that upbeat vibe right now. Laid off since mid-March, Heather Turner spends hours each day trying to connect with unemployment."It tells me how much I'm entitled to per week," she explained about her eligibility. "But then it says the system is broken and we can't pay you."She has received nothing so far. Since early May she has been working the phone and job searching in her field just as if it was a regular workday.According to economic analysts, the quickest rebound is with IT, restaurants and hotels.And even though the May jobs report is better than expected, Brandon Zureick with Johnson Asset Management notes the elevated level of 13% remains."While people are certainly starting to come back, capacity is not back to where it was, say, at the end of 2019," he stated.Turner worked as a convenience store manager before she was hired by United Transportation Systems which eliminated her position when the pandemic put the brakes on the economy.She tried again unsuccessfully Friday to get through to the state, relating how once when she did connect she was told 15% to 20% of Ohioans had yet to receive any payment. "But by the grace of God and my credit card, I'm making it," she allowed.However, the state office in charge of the claims relates a different picture.According to Bret Crow with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the state has processed 94% of the more than 1 million initial jobless claims filed since March 15."Those 6% (that are pending) are the most complex claims that need staff intervention because a Social Security number doesn't match, there is out-of-state income that needs to be verified, or we need to check whether the claimant's separation was allowable (i.e., ensuring that the claimant is unemployed because of a lack of work, and not because he/she quit or were discharged)," he stated.The office receives upwards of 100,000 calls each day from claimants who need help with their claims."Sometimes these interactions take an hour or two to resolve all the issues," Crow wrote.While Ohio's governor lifts more lockdown restrictions and more businesses start to rehire furloughed workers, those who qualify for unemployment but have yet to receive it are running up high-interest credit card debt."It's shameful," Turner told us. "It's hard."

There are signs Friday that the nation's dipping economy is springing back up, at least a bit of a bounce.

It's not exactly a robust rebound, but it's a start according to the latest Labor Department report on joblessness.

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April's unemployment figure of 14.7% dropped to 13.3% in May.

On the surface, the bustle around Mt. Lookout Square Friday suggested what those numbers show -- an economy starting to rebound.

The government said 2.5 million jobs were added last month on the back end of the pandemic, a lot more than what was anticipated.

"The numbers are great," said President Trump Friday morning. "And this leads us onto a long period of growth."

In Dayton Friday afternoon, we spoke with a former Cincinnati social worker who is not feeling that upbeat vibe right now. Laid off since mid-March, Heather Turner spends hours each day trying to connect with unemployment.

"It tells me how much I'm entitled to per week," she explained about her eligibility. "But then it says the system is broken and we can't pay you."

She has received nothing so far. Since early May she has been working the phone and job searching in her field just as if it was a regular workday.

According to economic analysts, the quickest rebound is with IT, restaurants and hotels.
And even though the May jobs report is better than expected, Brandon Zureick with Johnson Asset Management notes the elevated level of 13% remains.

"While people are certainly starting to come back, capacity is not back to where it was, say, at the end of 2019," he stated.

Turner worked as a convenience store manager before she was hired by United Transportation Systems which eliminated her position when the pandemic put the brakes on the economy.

She tried again unsuccessfully Friday to get through to the state, relating how once when she did connect she was told 15% to 20% of Ohioans had yet to receive any payment.

"But by the grace of God and my credit card, I'm making it," she allowed.

However, the state office in charge of the claims relates a different picture.

According to Bret Crow with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the state has processed 94% of the more than 1 million initial jobless claims filed since March 15.

"Those 6% (that are pending) are the most complex claims that need staff intervention because a Social Security number doesn't match, there is out-of-state income that needs to be verified, or we need to check whether the claimant's separation was allowable (i.e., ensuring that the claimant is unemployed because of a lack of work, and not because he/she quit or were discharged)," he stated.

The office receives upwards of 100,000 calls each day from claimants who need help with their claims.

"Sometimes these interactions take an hour or two to resolve all the issues," Crow wrote.

While Ohio's governor lifts more lockdown restrictions and more businesses start to rehire furloughed workers, those who qualify for unemployment but have yet to receive it are running up high-interest credit card debt.

"It's shameful," Turner told us. "It's hard."