Floridians who receive unemployment benefits must now fill out five job applications per week if they wish to continue receiving benefits.
Starting Tuesday, Florida residents will have to show proof that they are actively looking for work as businesses across the state have struggled to find workers to keep up with surging demand resulting from the loosening of coronavirus restrictions.
The requirement was scaled back by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last year when jobs were scarce, but a labor shortage is now leading to a different climate.
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“I think it’s going to put a lot more people to work. It’ll obviously fill some of those positions that are in demand,” Frank Sierra, a Florida restaurant general manager, said about the change. “Business six months ago wasn’t really demanding, so if you had somewhat of a shorter staff, you were able to get by, and everything was fine, but I think this might boost people as business picks up. I think it’ll help people out with more applicants.”
Many local restaurants have had trouble competing with the unemployment benefits that Floridians earn to stay home. Florida residents are eligible for up to $275 from the state and $300 from the federal government each week, which adds up to roughly $14 an hour for a 40-hour workweek, and many businesses aren’t able to match that.
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“Normally, when you’re getting unemployment, the whole idea is that’s temporary, and you need to be looking for work to be able to get off unemployment,” DeSantis said last month during a news conference. “It was a disaster, so we suspended those job search requirements. I think it’s pretty clear now — we have an abundance of job openings.”
DeSantis is believed to be one of the front-runners for the 2024 Republican nomination if former President Donald Trump decides not to run again. Trump, however, floated the possibility of DeSantis joining him on the ticket if he does, in fact, run for a White House return.
