On November 29, 2022, during simultaneous press conferences in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Keystone Research Center released a report highlighting the many problems of Pennsylvania’s unemployment system and called on Governor-elect Shapiro to fix the ongoing issues and restore workers’ confidence in the system upon taking office.
The report shows that problematic technology and staffing cuts under previous administrations led to the fragile system crumbling during the COVID pandemic. While the state managed to pay out $50 billion in benefits during that time, it did so only with great delays and problems that caused additional pain to workers. Today, the volume of unemployment claims has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but issues with timely payments and appeals continue to plague the Commonwealth.
The Report
An Unemployment Insurance Agenda for PA’s Next Governor: Fix What’s Broken and Create a New National Model—a Trampoline and a Repaired Safety Net
The Press Release
Report: PA’s Next Governor Must Fix the State’s Broken Unemployment System to Protect Workers and Economy
Recorded Press Conference, Philadelphia
The Media
Advocates: Shapiro must fix Pa.’s ‘broken’ unemployment system | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Pennsylvania Capital–Star| 11/30/22
Advocates ask Josh Shapiro to fix Pa.’s unemployment system
Organization Calls on Shapiro to Focus on Fixing ‘Broken’ Unemployment System
Pittsburgh Union Progress| 11/29/22
New report looks at Unemployment Compensation in Pennsylvania
Local21news.com | 11/29/22
Keystone Research Center pushes for improvements to Pennsylvania’s unemployment system
CBSnews.com | 11/29/22