Weathering Job Loss: Unemployment Insurance


 

Publication Date: July 2008

Publisher: Tax Policy Center

Author(s): Margaret Simms

Research Area: Economics

Keywords: Families/Parenting; Economic Well-being; Employment; Poverty and Safety Net

Type: Paper

Abstract:

Low-wage jobs are often characterized by uncertainty and unpredictable gaps in employment. A majority of workers in these jobs do not have access to the temporary income of unemployment insurance to tide them over when they suffer a job loss. This summary outlines recommendations for updating the program by extending benefits to more workers through changes in eligibility rules and establishing more uniform periods of benefit receipt.