Recent national figures showing increased employment nationwide are leading to a decline in federal unemployment funding, but some Athens County residents might still need the help.
The Emergency Unemployment Compensation program — federal unemployment funding that can augment state unemployment funding — decreased for the second time last month as the Congressional program is phased out, said Ben Johnson, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
“During the recession, Congress added to the number of weeks that federal funding could be received,” Johnson said.
At the height of the recession, when Ohio’s unemployment rate was 10.6 percent, citizens could receive 99 weeks of
funding. That was then decreased to 72 weeks. After the unemployment rate reached 7.2 percent in July, the limit was again lowered to its current 66 weeks in late August, Johnson said.
“The program was designed to phase out when the economy started improving,” Johnson said, adding the amount of funding is directly tied to a state’s unemployment rate.
The Ohio unemployment rate stayed unchanged at 7.2 percent in both August and July. The national rate decreased from 8.3 percent in July to 8.1 percent in August, according to U.S. Census data.
The Athens County rate improved from 8.8 percent in July to 8.0 percent in August, said Nick Claussen, spokesman for the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services.
Despite the decreased unemployment, Claussen said the Emergency Unemployment Compensation is still needed.
“It is utilized a lot,” he said. “We still have people who are still looking for work.”
He added even though the unemployment rate decreased, the amount of people in the labor force is down. In 2010, 31,000 Athens County residents were in the work force, but the number decreased to 29,600 by the end of 2011.
The median household income has also decreased throughout the country. In 2008, the median household income was about $54,500, but it has decreased to about $50,000 in 2011, according to a Pew Research Center study.
The median household income is significantly lower for Athens County — about $31,600, Claussen said.
Johnson and Claussen said their departments will do everything possible to assist people still in need of assistance.
“When (people) go off unemployment, they will be looking to us for help for cash and food assistance,” Claussen said.
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