Biden on April jobs report: Enhanced weekly benefits haven't stopped workers from taking jobs

"No, nothing measurable," Biden said when asked if the weekly federal jobless payments are diminishing a return to work in some categories of businesses

By Nicholas Ballasy

Published: May 7, 2021 1:06pm

Updated: May 7, 2021 1:49pm

Reacting to the federal April jobs report announced Friday, President Biden said that enhanced weekly jobless benefits haven't stopped workers from taking jobs.

Biden signed a $1.9 trillion stimulus plan in March that contained a $300 added federal weekly jobless benefit on top of state benefits through September 2021. Restaurants and small businesses have said that enhanced jobless benefits have made it difficult to find workers to fill job openings.

Economists had predicted 1 million jobs would be added last month but that number was only 266,000.

Biden was asked on Friday if the enhanced jobless benefits have had "any effect on diminishing a return to work" in certain categories.

"No, nothing measurable," he replied.