South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) has ordered all federal, pandemic-related unemployment programs in the state to end on June 30, citing workforce shortages, The Hill reported. In a memo to South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce Director Daniel Ellzey, McMaster said that businesses “face an unprecedented labor shortage” attributed caused by pandemic-related benefits given on top of state unemployment benefits. McMaster said what was intended to be short-term assistance turned into “dangerous federal entitlement, incentivizing and paying workers to stay at home rather than encouraging them to return to the workplace.” South Carolina is the second state that will end expanded unemployment benefits next month. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced Tuesday that the state will stop participating in expanded benefits. The state will instead use funds from President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill to give $1,200 to people who had an active unemployment claim as of May 4, accepted a job offer and completed at least four weeks of paid work.
